The Georgia Museum of Art is pleased to welcome our new deputy director of business operations, Parris Baker-Coley. Parris holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in higher administration from the University of Georgia. He joined the museum in September and is excited to pursue a career aligned with the arts.
Baker-Coley shared, “The arts have always been a significant part of my life, and it wasn’t something I was able to tap into until now.” Even before he began his job search, he was captivated by the museum.
Earlier this year, Baker-Coley took a tour of the museum. “I was taken aback by just how beautiful the museum was,” he said. “I couldn’t believe a space like this existed on campus.” When he saw that the museum was hiring, he knew it was the perfect next step for him.
The day-to-day operations of Baker-Coley’s role involve analyzing the museum’s finances and presenting this information clearly to others. For instance, he reviews all purchases made by the museum, including payment requests for guest speakers and reimbursements for staff travel.
Baker-Coley is most excited to explore ways to modernize the museum’s finances. “I want to give people a better understanding of the finances,” he said. “Money can be something that is difficult to understand, and I enjoy being able to break it down for people.” Outside of his day-to-day operations, Baker-Coley is excited to be closer to the museum. He looks forward to learning more about museum operations and visiting the galleries almost every day, as one visit does not do the museum justice.
In his free time, Baker-Coley loves watching movies, attending concerts, listening to music and going to the theater. His favorite movies are usually sci-fi and fantasy, such as “Star Wars” and “Lord of the Rings.” Recently, Baker-Coley has been enjoying Kendrick Lamar’s surprise album, “GNX,” which he has already listened to several times. Baker-Coley is a big fan of hip hop and also loves artists like Tyler, the Creator and Doechii.
The museum is happy to have Baker-Coley on our team and cannot wait to see what he accomplishes.
Authored by:
Isabel Davis
