Emily K. Rafferty is president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She was elected to the post by the Metropolitan’s Board of Trustees in 2005 after a 29-year career at the institution, where she rose through the ranks in the areas of development and external affairs. As the Metropolitan’s chief administrative officer, she is now responsible for supervising more than 2,500 museum employees in the areas of finance, technology and information services, legal affairs, development, membership, communications, construction and facilities management, merchandising, government relations, human resources and security. She also serves as an ex officio member of the Museum’s Board.

Ms. Rafferty has served on the staff of the Metropolitan Museum since 1976. She began her career at the Met as an administrator for Corporate, Foundation and Individual Fundraising, and then served as manager of Development from 1981 through 1984. From 1984 through 1996 she was vice president for Development and Membership. She was promoted to senior vice president for Development and Membership in 1996, and then to senior vice president for External Affairs in 1999. In this position, she held responsibility for the strategic planning for and implementation of all of the institution’s fundraising activities, along with special events, admissions and visitor services. She also led the effort to create the Metropolitan’s website, and to create and implement its multicultural audience and membership initiative.

Ms. Rafferty began her professional career in 1971 as an assistant to David Rockefeller, Jr., in Boston, focusing on his interests in the arts, education and philanthropy. From 1973 through 1975 she was deputy director of education at Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art.

Born and raised in New York City, Ms. Rafferty earned her bachelor of arts degree cum laude from Boston University.

January 2011