(New York, October 2, 2026)—The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced today the appointment of Norah Yahya as Chief Diversity and Government Affairs Officer.
Yahya has led The Met’s government affairs work since 2021, serving as Senior Government Affairs Officer before being named Chief Government Affairs Officer in January 2026, where she has played a key role in shaping the Museum’s priorities and advancing that agenda through strong partnerships with city, state, and federal officials. In this expanded role, Yahya will continue to lead the Museum’s government affairs efforts while overseeing initiatives to ensure that The Met is inclusive, equitable and welcoming to all, bringing these areas of work together in a newly unified department. Yahya will build upon the Chief Diversity Officer position, which was established in 2021, and the Museum’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, access, and inclusion, collaborating with colleagues across the institution to further integrate this mission-driven work into the Museum’s operations and engagement with its audiences and communities. The new role is effective immediately.
“Norah Yahya is an exceptional leader, a trusted advisor, and a thoughtful and collaborative partner,” said Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and CEO. “Since joining The Met, she has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to build meaningful relationships throughout this Museum and across government, the cultural sector, and the many communities we serve, while advancing priorities that are essential to The Met’s mission. I am grateful to Norah for taking on this expanded role. Her experience, perspective, and deep commitment to community engagement will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen and advance this important work.”
Yahya said, “I am honored to take on this new responsibility that builds on the important work of my colleagues across the Museum. My focus will be on strengthening our commitment to creating a community where everyone feels welcome, valued, and able to thrive. I am excited to collaborate with teams throughout the institution on this critical mandate, while continuing to advance The Met’s mission and role in New York City and beyond.”
About Norah Yahya
Norah Yahya is a senior government affairs and public policy leader with more than 15 years of experience advancing priorities in the arts, humanities, and education. She joined The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2021 as Chief Government Affairs Officer, where she leads governmental affairs strategy and works with city, state, and federal officials to advance the Museum’s mission and secure public funding and support.
During her tenure at The Met, Yahya has helped secure more than $80 million in capital funding over four years for critical Museum infrastructure projects. She advises senior leadership on city, state, and federal policy issues and works closely with Board committees on public policy strategy. She has also led coalition-building efforts as Manhattan Vice Chair of the Cultural Institutions Group, including advocacy initiatives supporting cultural institutions across New York City and State.
Yahya has spearheaded community engagement initiatives at The Met, including Community Wednesdays, and has worked throughout the institution to strengthen relationships with community groups and other stakeholders.
Before joining The Met, Yahya served as Vice President at The Parkside Group, where she led advocacy strategies for nonprofit organizations seeking city and state funding and advised clients on public policy and legislative matters. Previously, she was Associate Director of Government and Community Affairs at The New York Public Library, where she managed policy and community engagement teams and led advocacy campaigns supporting the Library’s programs and capital needs.
She holds a master’s degree in Urban Education Policy from Brown University and a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from Duke University, as well as a certificate in Media Policy and Journalism.
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October 2, 2026
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Appoints Norah Yahya as Chief Diversity and Government Affairs Officer
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