New York Folklore Seeks New Executive Director as Ellen McHale Retires
- New York Folklore is initiating a national search for a new executive director to manage its statewide arts operations, as current leader Ellen McHale prepares to step down...
- Ellen McHale has led New York Folklore since 1999, building the organization into a model for public folklore work in the United States, according to the organization's official...
- Wilfredo Morel, president of the New York Folklore Board of Trustees, credited McHale with connecting grassroots communities to vital resources.
New York Folklore is initiating a national search for a new executive director to manage its statewide arts operations, as current leader Ellen McHale prepares to step down on May 1, 2027. The Schenectady-based organization, which supports tradition bearers and folk artists across the state, has set an annual salary range of $72,000 to $75,000 for the incoming full-time, exempt position.
Leadership Transition After Three Decades
Ellen McHale has led New York Folklore since 1999, building the organization into a model for public folklore work in the United States, according to the organization’s official announcement. During her tenure, McHale focused on documenting the lives of workers in diverse industries, including her 2012 fieldwork on Thoroughbred racetrack employees, which led to the publication of Stable Views: Voices and Stories of the Thoroughbred Racetrack
in 2014. In 2024, the American Folklore Society elected McHale as a Fellow, an honorary distinction recognizing her contributions to the field.
Wilfredo Morel, president of the New York Folklore Board of Trustees, credited McHale with connecting grassroots communities to vital resources. Communities doing work caring for one another and their traditions for generations, not aware that what they were doing is folklife—and that there were resources available to support their work!
Morel stated. Wherever there’s been a need, Ellen has deployed people.
Candidate Requirements and Application Process
The Board of Trustees is seeking a candidate with at least five years of managerial experience in a cultural organization. Preferred applicants will hold a master’s degree in folklore or an adjacent field, such as anthropology, museum studies, or ethnomusicology. The organization emphasizes that the ideal candidate must be a community-focused leader who practices leading from the back
and demonstrates strong skills in grant writing and fundraising.
The position requires the successful applicant to reside in the Capital region and be available for statewide travel. The role includes a benefits package featuring paid leave, a 403(b) retirement plan with up to 5% employer contribution, and access to an employer-sponsored health insurance plan after a probationary period.
Applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, three references, and two professional work samples as a single PDF. Materials should be sent to the search committee via email at executivesearch@nyfolklore.org or by mail to PO Box 110, Schenectady, NY 12301. The deadline for all submissions is January 4, 2027.
Organizational Outlook and Future Growth
The Board of Trustees has established a transition committee to oversee the search and manage the organization’s growth as it moves into its next phase. While the search is national in scope, the Board has expressed a specific interest in maintaining the organization’s current focus on cultural equity.
As we look for the next director of New York Folklore, my top concern is finding someone that leads with a similar heart and commitment to equity. If we find someone that can exercise even a little of what she’s been capable of, I’ll be grateful.
Wilfredo Morel, New York Folklore Board President
The organization plans to announce details regarding a celebration to honor McHale’s 27-year tenure in the coming weeks. For further information regarding the search process, interested parties may contact Wilfredo Morel at 518-346-7008.