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Leadership Announcement

August 20, 2026

Headshot of Caitlin Doherty MOCA Jacksonville Announces Departure of Executive Director Caitlín Doherty Following Landmark Era of Growth


Jacksonville, Fla. — The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA) today announced that Executive Director and Arts UNF Associate Vice President Caitlín Doherty will conclude her tenure with the museum and the University of North Florida this fall. Doherty is an accomplished museum leader with 25 years of curatorial and executive director experience spanning three continents and positions in both contemporary art institutions as well as historic building museums.

“When I arrived at MOCA in 2017, I was immediately inspired by the museum's rich history, its deep connection to the community, and its tremendous potential. Over the past nine years, I have had the privilege of working alongside an exceptional staff, dedicated board members, generous donors, passionate members, artists, volunteers, and community partners who share a belief in the power of contemporary art to spark dialogue, foster creativity, and enrich lives.”
— Caitlín Doherty, Executive Director of MOCA Jacksonville & Associate Vice President, Arts UNF 
 
After nine years leading MOCA Jacksonville, Doherty leaves a legacy of organizational growth, expanded community impact, national recognition, and a strengthened role for the museum as a cultural and educational resource for Northeast Florida. She will begin her new role as Executive Director of Telfair Museums in Savannah, Georgia in October 2026. 
 
Doherty has guided the museum through a period of expanded exhibitions, programs, partnerships and community engagement. Under her leadership, MOCA marked its 100-year anniversary in 2024 with ambitious programming that honored the museum’s history while positioning it for its next century of impact. A signature achievement of that milestone was the acquisition of Jacksonville Stacked Stars, the final monumental work created by Frank Stella in celebration of MOCA’s centenary and now serving as a defining public artwork for the museum and downtown Jacksonville. 
 
In 2025, MOCA achieved accreditation through the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition earned by American museums. Doherty’s work, alongside the efforts of the MOCA team, helped elevate the museum’s visibility, deepen civic and philanthropic engagement, and expand access to contemporary art for students, families, artists, visitors and the broader Jacksonville community. 
 
“I leave MOCA with tremendous optimism and confidence. The museum's future is bright, and I know the institution will continue to thrive as it enters its second century.”
— Caitlín Doherty, Executive Director of MOCA Jacksonville & Associate Vice President, Arts UNF 
 
“Caitlín’s leadership has been nothing short of transformative for MOCA Jacksonville. Throughout her tenure, she has led with vision, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the museum’s mission. She has a remarkable ability to connect with our community, forge meaningful strategic partnerships, and inspire support for contemporary art across Jacksonville and beyond. At every step, Caitlín has made decisions with MOCA’s long-term success in mind, helping to strengthen the institution while positioning it for an even brighter future. We are grateful for her extraordinary contributions and wish her continued success in this exciting new chapter at Telfair Museums.”
— Lauren Baker, Acting Chair of MOCA Jacksonville's Board of Trustees
 
Doherty also served as Associate Vice President, Arts UNF, a university initiative dedicated to leveraging art and creativity to support University programs and foster community engagement, while providing a cohesive structure for campus gallery spaces and collections. In its first year, Arts UNF supported fundraising and collaboration for the largest UNF Opera production in recent memory, as well as collaborative student experiential learning opportunities with faculty from the Department of Art, Art History & Design, Hicks Honors College, UNF Preschool, and Department of Biology.
 
“Caitlín has brought vision, creativity and deep commitment to her work at UNF and MOCA Jacksonville. She strengthened MOCA’s role as a vital cultural resource for our students, our city and the broader arts community. We are proud to see her take on this exciting and well-earned opportunity with Telfair Museums. The future of MOCA Jacksonville is brighter as a result of her nearly 10 years of service.  
— Angela Falconetti, President, University of North Florida

 

ABOUT CAITLÍN DOHERTY

Learn more about Caitlín Doherty’s career here.

ABOUT TELFAIR MUSEUMS

Telfair Museums is located in Savannah’s Historic District and comprises three sites: the Jepson Center, Telfair Academy, and Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters. Learn more here.