The Witte Museum in San Antonio has named Michelle Cuellar Everidge its new president and CEO.
Everidge, who officially started on Feb. 1, is the first Latina to lead the museum in its nearly 100-year history. She succeeds Dirk Elmendorf, who stepped in as a transitional leader following Marise McDermott’s 20-year tenure. Her advancement into the position concludes a nationwide search, said Clara Guerrero, director of communications at the Witte.
“[Everidge] will lead the Witte with expertise and passion that honors the museum’s legacy,” said Ryan Pape, chair of the Witte Museum Board of Trustees. “We are excited for her to work with the community to shape a bold future for the museum.”
Everidge grew up in San Antonio and visited the museum often as a child, which she said sparked a lifelong love of museums and history. She joined the Witte’s staff as a grant writer 15 years ago and was promoted to deputy director last year. Her work within the museum has spanned from fundraising and finance to curatorial and collections.
Her extensive academic background underscores her commitment to education and cultural stewardship, the Witte Museum said in a press release. Everidge holds a doctorate from the University of Delaware, a master’s degree from Parsons School of Design and a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University.
In addition to her work at the Witte, Everidge serves on the executive committee of the Texas Association of Museums. Everidge said she is honored to lead the Witte.
“The Witte has shaped who I am, and I am deeply committed to its mission of inspiring people to shape the future of Texas,” she said. “I look forward to building on the foundational work of Marise McDermott and Dirk Elmendorf to ensure the Witte continues to serve as a center for curiosity, discovery and transformation for generations to come.”
Everidge’s leadership comes as the Witte prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026. The centennial will include a year of celebrations featuring a community-wide birthday bash, new exhibitions showcasing the museum’s collections and recently discovered fossils, and an “interactive journey” through San Antonio’s cultural and culinary history, the museum said.
The museum also plans to release a book chronicling the museum’s first century through 100 objects, people and moments, called 100 Years of Inspiration, Innovation, and Resilience.
“This is a milestone moment for San Antonio and Texas,” Guerrero said in an email.
