ATHENS, Ohio -- James Wyman, director of the University Galleries of the University of Florida in Gainesville, has been appointed the John B. and Dareth A. Gerlach Director of the Kennedy Museum of Art effective April 1.

"The arts are synonymous with the City of Athens," Wyman said. "I have watched with interest and excitement the founding and development of the Kennedy Museum of Art and I am honored and excited to join this distinguished team of professionals."

Wyman, 40, has 18 years of experience in museums and galleries as an administrator, curator, educator and artist. He teaches in the University of Florida's Museum Studies Program, an interdisciplinary master's degree program and was instrumental in developing the curriculum for it.

"We are delighted that James will be joining the staff as the John B. and Dareth A. Gerlach Director of the Kennedy Museum of Art," said Raymond Tymas-Jones, dean of the College of Fine Arts. "His work at the University of Florida has been exceptional."

In 1998, Wyman developed the Program for Electronic On-line Participation, Linkage and Education. Using Internet video-conferencing equipment installed within the gallery, visitors are able to communicate directly with artists, scholars, educators, students and institutions around the world.

He organized 300 national and international exhibitions as director of the University Galleries and substantially increased the galleries' funds, secured major donations for permanent collections, expanded education programs and facilities, developed new art audiences, and enlarged the scope of exhibition activities. Wyman is directing a $3.4 million capital campaign to renovate and expand the main University Gallery.

Wyman also is the administrator of one of the state's largest public art programs, the University of Florida's Art in State Buildings Program.

Before becoming director of the University Galleries, Wyman directed the Exhibitions Program and taught in the master of Fine Arts degree program at the Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester, N. Y., a private, non-profit center of contemporary and media-based arts, education, visual culture and history.

He and his wife, Karen, have two children, Emmett and Zachery.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Wyman received a bachelor of fine arts degree from the Ohio State University in 1983 and received his master of fine arts degree from the University of Colorado in 1987.