Jacksonville, FL — The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA), part of the University of North Florida, proudly announces the appointment of seven distinguished individuals to its Board of Trustees. These leaders bring a broad range of expertise, a passion for the arts, and a shared commitment to advancing the museum’s mission to promote the discovery, knowledge, and advancement of the art, artists, and ideas of our time.
Strong Governance for a Vibrant Future
The addition of these trustees underscores MOCA’s dedication to robust governance and strategic leadership as it forges ahead with momentum from its hugely successful 100 Year Anniversary in 2024. The collective experience of its Board will guide the museum in expanding its reach, deepening community connections, and ensuring sustainability for generations to come.
Building Community Through the Arts
Each new trustee brings unique strengths that will help MOCA amplify its role as a one of Jacksonville’s leading cultural institutions:
Virginia Becker is a Ponte Vedra Beach–based entrepreneur, designer, and arts advocate with deep roots in the museum and gallery world. As co-founder of Terra Innovations, Becker has spearheaded projects ranging from residential communities and bespoke vacation homes to marinas, yachts, and innovative energy solutions. Her career began at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where she supported major exhibitions and curatorial initiatives. Becker holds an M.A. in Art History from American University and has studied Renaissance Art at the British Institute of Florence. Since relocating to Northeast Florida, she has been actively engaged in philanthropy and cultural initiatives that foster creativity and education.
With a background in health sciences and extensive community involvement, Melanie Busby is a dedicated leader and philanthropist. She has chaired parent associations at The Bolles School, has served on the Wolfson Children’s Development Council, and was co-chair of the Angelwood Annual Gala. Her leadership reflects a strong commitment to education, healthcare, and the arts, and she has already stepped forward to co-host MOCA’s signature fundraising event this year.
As the UNF Student Representative on MOCA’s Board of Trustees, Emily Chaves embodies the next generation of arts leadership. Her work with Art with a Heart in Healthcare and leadership roles within UNF highlight her dedication to accessibility, inclusion, and community engagement through the arts.
An accomplished sculptor and architect, David Engdahl has exhibited works throughout the United States and completed more than 20 public and private commissions. His art is featured in public and private collections, including those of the Huntsville Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, Orlando Museum of Art, and Wiregrass Museum of Art. A recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship and the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville Innovator Award, Engdahl’s contributions to the arts community are widely celebrated and he has served on many arts and cultural boards across Jacksonville. This is Engdhal’s second time elected to serve on the MOCA Board.
Inger Loftheim Geraghty is committed to community service and leadership excellence. She built a distinguished career in corporate sales and leadership and has served on boards for the American Heart Association, Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center, and the Lung Association. She has also chaired numerous philanthropic events for nonprofits serving the local community. A passionate advocate for breast cancer education and research, Geraghty remains deeply committed to initiatives that drive meaningful impact across Northeast Florida.
Shanna Khan is the President of the Khan Family Office, as well as CEO and Founder of Shanna Collective, a commercial real estate development company with assets under management in Jacksonville and Chicago. Khan is a visionary leader and driving force behind some of Jacksonville's most transformative projects, overseeing her family office's global portfolio of development and investment properties and initiatives, including the landmark Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Shipyards. Khan guides the vision, strategy, and achievements of these high-impact projects, which are positively reshaping the identity of Downtown Jacksonville's Northbank district.
Brian Moore serves as Vice President and Senior Relationship Strategist at PNC Private Bank, bringing nearly three decades of experience in financial planning and client service. Moore holds an MBA from the University of Florida and is a Chartered Financial Consultant and Chartered Life Underwriter. His expertise in strategic planning and philanthropy strengthens MOCA’s mission to sustain and grow its cultural impact.
Driving Positive Change
“These new trustees embody the values of innovation, collaboration, and community,” said Caitlín Doherty, Associate Vice President of Arts UNF and Executive Director of MOCA Jacksonville. “Their leadership will help us expand our impact and ensure that contemporary art remains a vital force in Northeast Florida. I am extremely grateful for their passion and commitment to MOCA, and look forward to working with them and our entire MOCA Board as we look ahead to an exciting future at MOCA Jackonville ”
For more information about MOCA Jacksonville and its programs, visit mocajacksonville.unf.edu.
ABOUT MOCA JACKSONVILLE
Located in the heart of historic Downtown, the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville is one of the city’s most significant cultural assets. As the oldest art museum in Northeast Florida and one of the first contemporary art museums to be established in the United States, MOCA is focused on promoting the discovery, knowledge, and advancement of the art, artists, and ideas of our time.
In 1924, a group of visionary local women artists came together to imagine the kind of city they wanted Jacksonville to be — the kind of community they wanted to live in and be a part of. At the core of their vision for a rich, vital, dynamic city were art, culture, and education. Thus, what we now call MOCA Jacksonville was born — first as a series of exhibitions by artists of the day, used as a fundraising tool to support public school education; then as a guild; and later as an art museum and educational leader. In 2009, MOCA became a cultural institute of the University of North Florida and in 2025 the museum became one of only three percent of museums to achieve accreditation through the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition afforded to American museums. More than century later, MOCA’s mission remains focused on the art, artists, and ideas of our time, with a vision that unites education, creativity, and community building in the heart of downtown Jacksonville.
Among the most prominent contemporary art museums in the Southeast, MOCA’s exhibitions and programs set the pace for arts and art-integrated programming on a regional and national stage, with an emphasis on works created from 1960 to the present. Renowned in this community, MOCA casts the spotlight on Jacksonville as a burgeoning, vital arts destination.
For more information including hours of operation, admission prices and upcoming exhibitions and programs, call 904.366.6911 or visit mocajacksonville.unf.edu.
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AMBER SESNICK
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
ARTS UNF
W: 904-620-3224 | C: 904-303-0703
MOCA JACKSONVILLE
Part of Arts UNF at the University of North Florida
333 North Laura Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32202
Follow @mocajax
MOCAJACKSONVILLE.UNF.EDU