WSSU welcomes Dianne Pledger as new director of the Diggs Art Gallery
Winston-Salem State University has named Dianne Pledger as the new director of the Diggs Art Gallery, the College of Arts, Sciences and Education announced.
Pledger brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in arts management, fundraising and cultural programming. Throughout her career, she has curated exhibitions, developed educational initiatives and led multimillion-dollar fundraising campaigns raising and stewarding more than $12 million in capital and annual campaign funds.
She is the principal consultant of Pledger Consulting, a firm she founded in 1992 that specializes in nonprofit administration, strategic planning, grant writing, board development and organizational capacity building. Her professional background also includes leadership roles with Habitat for Humanity, North Carolina Freedom Monument Project, Shaw University and the Hayti Heritage Center, including work with the Lyda Moore Merrick Gallery, where she provided oversight in development, communications and strategic program implementation.
In addition to her professional work, Pledger serves as an appointed commissioner on the Chapel Hill Cultural Arts Commission, supporting public art initiatives and community-based cultural programming.
“My professional purpose is to use my knowledge, skills, abilities, resources and passion for the nonprofit field to support the good work organizations are doing to accomplish their mission and goals effectively,” Pledger said.
As director, Pledger will provide intellectual and artistic leadership to advance the gallery’s role in supporting undergraduate curricular and co-curricular programs while promoting the visual arts locally, regionally and nationally. Her responsibilities include developing and implementing an exhibition calendar, achieving annual fundraising goals, overseeing curatorial records and the university art collection, and expanding gallery publications, publicity and educational programming.
She will also collaborate closely with Academic Affairs, the College of Arts, Sciences and Education, and campus partners to ensure gallery operations align with university best practices.
Over the coming months, Pledger plans to focus on strategic planning, a facility and collections assessment, a stakeholder listening tour and preparation for a reopening celebration accompanied by a coordinated media and fundraising campaign. Additional priorities include establishing exhibition and fundraising goals and leading a website and digital relaunch.
Pledger said she is most excited to “again eat, sleep and live the arts,” emphasizing the opportunity to strengthen Diggs as both an academic and community-centered space.
The Diggs Art Gallery serves as a vital cultural and educational resource for the university and broader community. Nationally recognized for its African diasporic collection, the gallery connects students, artists and audiences through exhibitions and programs that celebrate heritage, scholarship and creative expression.
“Diggs is more than a gallery, it is a teaching space, cultural archive and community convener,” Pledger said. “The world needs the vision of Diggs now as much as ever.”
Meet and greet
Faculty and staff are invited to meet Pledger at a campus meet-and-greet scheduled for March 4, 2026, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Red Room. Additional details will be shared as the date approaches.
About Diggs Art Gallery
As one of North Carolina’s largest spaces dedicated to African and African Diaspora art, Diggs Gallery showcases diverse artistic voices with a focus on African American and regional expression. The gallery serves as a cultural hub and educational resource that connects students, artists and the community through exhibitions, programs and events celebrating art and shared experiences. It is located at 335 Rams Lane, Winston-Salem State University campus.
