Intrinsically Driven Art Museum Director: Wendie Cook

Living out action words is Wendie Murfee Cook’s life. She learned early on that DRIVE makes things happen, and she needed to be at her best in whatever she did. Deep family love, a strong moral compass, a meaningful education, and personal excellence — never was there even an inkling that these traits were a choice.

Growing up in Lubbock, she comes from a line of strong, God-fearing, independent women. Wendie was born with an intrinsic drive and a visionary spirit that she has learned to NAVIGATE. 

Her first career was in a small, high-end Interior Design and Architecture firm in Big D.  For the most part it was a dream job — she enjoyed large budgets, cross-country travel, and incredible design opportunities.  It was a good first career, living the proverbial high life, or so it looked from the outside. GRIT seems the perfect first word for that time. Those tremendous experiences marked her life and set her stage. But she needed more, and TRUST comes next to mind on her life path.

Courage describes her second career, one that came out of the blue. For the past 11 years, Wendie has been Executive Director of The Citadelle Art Museum in Canadian. She had zero museum credentials to take this job, other than a visionary brain, leadership qualities, and a childhood of tromping around art galleries with her artist grandmother. In Wendie, the Museum founders saw traits that allowed them to freely pass their gift into her hands, and she has built The Citadelle and its programs from the ground up. She likely should add CRAZY to her list of words, for several reasons.

In her community, Wendie is elected to the Canadian City Council, serves on the Economic Development Corporation, and is a member of the Texas Cultural Trust. Also requiring her creativity and calendar time are numerous appointments to statewide boards for arts, culture, and heritage. High speed is her only speed.

Wendie’s Book Recommendations:

  1. Joan Garry's Guide to Nonprofit Leadership: Because the World Is Counting on You by Joan Garry

  2. The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker

  3. Undaunted Courage :  Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West by Stephen Ambrose

  4. The Soul of Money: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life by Lynne Twist

  5. Open Your Own Doors: One Woman’s Story of Success in a Male-Dominated Industry by Nora Castro

  6. Asking: A 59-Minute Guide to Everything Board Members, Volunteers, and Staff Must Know to Secure the Gift by Jerold Panas

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Freelance Business Writer: Jodi Truscott

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Serving Shattered Women: Beth Greco