Mary Kathryne Wadford
Foundation Executive Director
State Museum Foundation
The South Carolina State Museum is proud to announce the appointment of Mary Kathryne Wadford as the new executive director of the South Carolina State Museum Foundation. She assumes this leadership role during a transformative time for the museum as it advances its $75 million Reimagine the Experience campaign, a bold initiative to renew exhibitions, enhance educational programming and expand engagement across South Carolina.
As executive director of the Foundation, Wadford will lead strategic fundraising efforts for the campaign, working closely with donors, stakeholders and museum leadership to bring this ambitious vision to life.
Prior to joining the State Museum Foundation, Wadford served as assistant vice president for Institutional Advancement at Newberry College, where she focused on donor engagement and alumni relations. She previously held fundraising leadership roles at Columbia College, the District Five Foundation and the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics. In these roles, she led capital campaigns, cultivated major gifts and built strong community partnerships.
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