Dr. Elizabeth Stack has accepted an offer to become the new Executive Director of the American Irish Historical Society (AIHS) in New York.
The AIHS announced the news on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday, November 21 and said that Stack will begin her new position on February 1.
The AIHS additionally teased that it will have "more good news to report shortly."
The Society is delighted to announce that Dr. Elizabeth Stack has accepted our offer to become the Society's new executive director. She will start on Feb. 1. Welcome, Dr. Stack!
We'll have more good news to report shortly.
— American Irish Historical Society (@AIHSNYC) November 21, 2023
Stack, a native of Listowel in Co Kerry who moved to New York in 2009, had been named to the interim board of directo
was appointed the Executive Director at the Irish American Heritage Museum in Albany, New York in 2018.
Announcing her appointment at the time, the Museum said that Stack would be responsible for all aspects of the Museum's operations.
Stack previously taught Irish American History and was an Associate Director of the Institute of Irish Studies at Fordham University, where she completed her Ph.D. She also has a master's degree in Anglo-Irish Relations in the 20th Century from University College Dublin.
When she was appointed as the Irish American Heritage Museum's Executive Director just over five years ago, Stack said: "I have learned that because emigration is part of the Irish story, and immigration part of the American, there is a reciprocity that exists between both countries that exceeds familial ties or time of arrival. "
It is unclear if Stack will remain in her role at the Irish American Heritage Museum upon taking up her new role at the American Irish Historical Society.
The American Irish Historical Society's headquarters, located at 991 Fifth Avenue in New York City, was placed on the market for $52 million in January 2021. Already facing financial and operational difficulties, it had been shuttered for some time due to the pandemic.
The effort to sell the property was met with concern from not only the Irish American community - more than 41,000 people signed an online petition calling for the sale to be halted - but also Irish politicians.
In March 2021, on the foot of the online petition, the Office of New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that it was monitoring the potential sale of the property, noting that "under state law, the sale of property by a nonprofit organization is contingent on approval by OAG or the New York State Supreme Court."
The following year, four board members resigned after it emerged that the AIHS intended to abandon New York City for a small town in upstate New York. That same month, the AIHS listing dropped $8 million to $44 million.
Later, in December 2022, AG James announced that the AIHS board would be replaced and an interim board was being appointed to manage the organization's affairs.
Stack was named to the interim board.
By the time AG James announced the interim board last winter, all previous board members had resigned and were no longer affiliated with the AIHS.
John Keefe, who had been named the interim executive director of the AIHS, said upon his appointment that 991 Fifth Avenue "is no longer for sale."
In March of this year, the interim board of the AIHS said it was accepting applications for its new, permanent Board of Directors. The interim board confirmed the nine permanent Board of Directors members in July.
In September, the AIHS said in a statement that it was seeking applications for its new Executive Director.
In a post on X on October 20, the AIHS said it is "alive and well and eager to see you again."
Remember this place? Of course you do. The American Irish Historical Society is alive and well and eager to see you again. pic.twitter.com/rP2TbvAktL
— American Irish Historical Society (@AIHSNYC) October 20, 2023
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