Gamm Board Appoints W. Lynn McKinney As President

The board of directors of The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre (The Gamm) is pleased to announce the appointment of W. Lynn McKinney as president, effective October 24, 2017. McKinney assumes the presidency at an exciting and pivotal time in The Gamm's history, as the theater prepares to relocate to a permanent home at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, R.I. in time for its 2018-2019 Season.

Retired Dean of the College of Human Science and Services and Professor Emeritus of Education at the University of Rhode Island, McKinney joined the Gamm Board in 2014. As the newly elected president, he succeeds Leon C. Boghossian III who will remain on the board of directors.

Outgoing Board President Boghossian commented, "Serving as President of the Board of The Gamm Theatre has been one of the highlights of my professional career and a personal privilege. It has been incredibly rewarding, and I was quite honored to have served with so many wonderful and dedicated board members and staff. I know The Gamm is in good hands under the leadership of Lynn McKinney and I look forward to attending the opening performance in our new space in Warwick."

Gamm Managing Director Oliver Dow added, "Leon was a steady hand during our 5-year search for a permanent home and we are forever grateful for his committed leadership. I'm confident that Lynn has the passion, experience, and energy to lead The Gamm through our next phase of growth as we build our new home in Warwick. Lynn is a gentle task master who leads by example and is fearless in his quest for success. It is an honor to partner with him in this exciting endeavor."

Said McKinney, "I am thrilled to be elected to the board presidency. We have a great staff, board and loyal audience and I am very much looking forward to working with them all." ABOUT W. LYNN MCKINNEY McKinney joined the faculty of the University of Rhode Island in 1972. Over the next 40 years he served in a variety of teaching and administrative positions including Director of the Curriculum Research and Development Center, Director of the Bachelor of General Studies Program, Director of the undergraduate Human Science and Services Program, Associate Dean of the College of Human Science and Services plus short stints as interim Executive Director of Rhode Island Project/AIDS, and founding Director of the Rhode Island Campus Compact. Between 1980-1982, he served as executive director of Indianapolis Settlements, Inc. while on leave from URI. McKinney retired from URI as Dean of the College of Human Science and Services in 2012. He lives in Narragansett, R.I. with his husband Ron Margolin.

Founded in 1984 as Alias Stage, the non-profit Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre creates the finest of live theater, engaging the audience intensely in current and recurrent issues of consequence. The Gamm further serves the public with educational outreach programming designed to support the theatrical experience, and help sustain and enhance the intellectual and cultural life of its community. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Tony Estrella and Managing Director Oliver Dow, The Gamm is a regionally recognized, award-winning theatre and a proud member of New England Area Theatre (NEAT), a bargaining unit of the Actors' Equity Association.

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