Business people
The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum has elected Diane Buchanan and Gary “Skip” Poliner to its board of trustees.
Buchanan has served in various leadership roles in her church and on the board of the Austin Theological Seminary. She has also held multiple advisory positions for Planned Parenthood’s North Texas and Rocky Mountain chapters.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from The College of Wooster, and a master’s degree in behavior disorders from the University of South Florida. A former teacher, she has been dedicated to education and childhood enrichment. As art collectors, Buchanan and her spouse, Richard Andrew, focus on works created by women.
Poliner retired from Northwestern Mutual in 2013. Prior to serving as its president, he had been the company’s chief investment officer and chief financial officer. He also was the executive vice president of investment products and services, as well as a member of Northwestern Mutual’s board of directors and board of trustees.
Poliner is an alumnus of Dickinson College, and a graduate of Duke University School of Law. He and his wife, Ildy, have a significant art collection, including notable pieces of Native American pottery. They are active in numerous cultural and educational organizations.
The School for Advanced Research has appointed six new members to its board of directors — Ned Blackhawk, Brian Foster, Louise Lamphere, James W. Robins, Jerry Sabloff and Gregory A. Smith. All were elected at the meeting of the SAR board of directors on Aug. 5.