A Tuesday morning email correspondence from Interim President William Gilligan announced David Howse as vice president of Emerson’s division of Institutional Advancement. The appointment will ensure the forward momentum of the search for the college’s next president, as Howse will lead the advancement, fundraising, and alumni engagement teams.

Additionally, Howse will continue in his roles as vice president of the Office of the Arts and executive director of ArtsEmerson. He joins Amy Tamburino, who recently assumed the role of senior associate vice president of Advancement Administration after managing departmental operations over the past several months.

“Together, and with the IA team, they will work to build upon the foundation laid for fundraising and alumni engagement for the college and seek to advance the division’s short term strategic goals and activities to ensure alignment with the college’s priorities,” Gilligan wrote, highlighting Howse’s previous experience with the ArtsEmerson program in aiding in a more diverse, inclusive, and innovative community.

Prior to joining the Emerson community in 2015 as the associate vice president for the Office of the Arts and the managing director for both ArtsEmerson and the Office of the Art, Howse worked as the executive director of the Boston Children’s Chorus, a nationally recognized youth arts organization. He teaches a management and leadership seminar to nonprofit managers and executives through the Institute for Nonprofit Practice.

Currently, he serves on the Boards of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Philanthropy Massachusetts, is on the Board of Advisors for Eastern Bank, Landmarks Orchestra, and as co-chair of the Advisory Council of the New England Foundation for the Arts. 

Howse was named one of the GK100: Boston’s Most Influential People of Color in 2018, and in April 2020 was named one of the most influential people in Boston by Boston Magazine.