Fredericksburg Area Museum Names Svetlana Legetic President & CEO
Appointment marks a new chapter for FAM as the Museum looks to deepen its role in the civic and cultural life of the growing Fredericksburg region
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — The Board of Directors of the Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM) is pleased to announce the appointment of Svetlana Legetic as the organization’s new President & Chief Executive Officer, following an extensive national search led by Good Insight.
Legetic, current Fredericksburg resident who spent most of her professional life in Washington D.C. and New York City, brings nearly two decades of leadership and engagement experience across cultural institutions and community-driven enterprises, with a career focused on organizational growth and transformation, as well as strengthening the relationship between organizations and the communities they serve.
“Svetlana brings a distinct blend of executive leadership, cultural experience, genuine love and commitment to the Fredericksburg area,” said Jon Gerlach, Chair of the FAM Board of Directors. “Throughout our search process, we were impressed by the breadth of her experience in building strong organizations, bringing people together and finding new ways for cultural institutions to matter in people’s lives. And she's consistently applied these principles throughout her career. She understands our responsibility to steward our region's rich history, and the importance of ensuring the Museum remains connected, relevant, and welcoming as the Fredericksburg area continues to grow and evolve. We are thrilled about the future of FAM under her leadership.”
Most recently, Legetic led Global Communications for Sol de Janeiro and its Foundation. Previously, she served on the executive leadership team of multi-city arts and technology organization ARTECHOUSE and has worked on major projects and initiatives with the Smithsonian Institution, National Geographic Society, the Phillips Collection, The Kennedy Center, Outward Bound, FotoDC and others. She also co-founded BYT Media, a landmark independent cultural media and events organization that operated in Washington, D.C., and New York City from 2006 to 2021.
For Legetic, the opportunity to lead FAM is both a natural extension of her experience and a deeply personal next chapter.
“What excites me most is the moment both FAM and the Fredericksburg area find themselves in,” said Legetic. “Fredericksburg is growing and evolving while remaining deeply connected to a history that has helped shape our country. My career has been guided by a simple belief: organizations thrive when they connect people—to ideas, to one another and to the places they call home. I believe FAM can not only continue to preserve and interpret our region’s complex histories, but also establish itself as a defining civic and cultural force and gathering place—a place where Fredericksburg comes to understand its past, celebrate its present and help shape its future. I’m eager to listen, build on what is already strong, and work with the museum team, stakeholders and community to see what we can build together that none of us could build alone.
The board and the community are deeply grateful to Clarissa Sanders for her service as interim president over the past year, and look forward to her stepping into her role of Director of Programs and Interpretation with renewed focus and energy.
To celebrate this next chapter, FAM, in addition to their already robust Fall programming, will welcome the community for a free, family-friendly Halloween Open House on October 31st. Visitors of all ages are invited to explore the Museum, meet Legetic and the FAM team, get a closer look at some of what’s happening behind the scenes, and enjoy special activities and experiences throughout the day. Additional details will be announced in the coming weeks.
