Welcoming Daniel Y. Mayer as Interim Executive Director of the Seminary Co-op Bookstores
July 15th, 2024
Dear Seminary Co-op Community,
I’m delighted to share with you, on behalf of the Seminary Co-op’s Board of Directors, that Daniel Y. Mayer has been appointed as our Interim Executive Director. The Board’s search committee conducted a thorough and competitive hiring process and has considered a diverse and experienced slate of candidates. Based on his extensive experience leading arts and cultural nonprofit organizations, the Board has identified Daniel Y. Mayer as the ideal candidate to lead the Seminary Co-op Bookstores in this period of transition.
Mayer joins the Co-op with a proven track record as an impactful and responsive leader, with notable experience in several interim roles at arts and cultural organizations. Mayer was most recently the President/CEO of the Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, SC, and previously served as the Executive Director for The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, NC for more than six years. Mayer brings a wealth of knowledge in all aspects of nonprofit organizations, including management, external partnerships, operations, and finances. With his talents and an impressive skill set developed over more than twenty years at the head of mission-driven organizations, the Board is confident in Dan’s ability to lead the Seminary Co-op as we continue to find our footing post-COVID as not-for-profit bookstores.
On joining the stores, Mayer looks forward to working with our wonderful team of booksellers and managers and to getting to know our passionate community of book-lovers. Mayer shares, “I am delighted to be joining the staff of the Seminary Co-op Bookstores as Interim Executive Director. I look forward to helping lead the organization during this time of transition toward a future where the store’s mission of bookselling can have an even greater impact on the Chicago community and nationwide.” After graduating from law school, he was the Executive Director of Lawyers for the Creative Arts based in Chicago and is looking forward to returning to the city.
As part of the store’s leadership transition, Noor Shawaf and Clancey D’Isa will be bringing their time at the stores to a close. They have most recently held roles as Acting Co-Directors––the Board is extremely grateful for their dedication and years of leadership, especially through this period of transition. We wish them the very best in all their future endeavors.
Dan Mayer will be joining the Seminary Co-op as Interim Executive Director starting from today, July 15th. We look forward to welcoming Dan to our store and to the contributions he will bring to our singular book-centered spaces and community of readers.
Please join me in welcoming Dan,
Katie Parsons
On behalf of the Seminary Co-op Bookstores Board of Directors