Soyoung Yoon Appointed New Director of Whitney Museum's Independent Study Program

The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York has announced Soyoung Yoon as the new head of its prestigious Independent Study Program (ISP), with her tenure commencing on June 16. This significant appointment marks Yoon as the first woman and person of color to lead the program, a pivotal development for an institution known for fostering critical dialogue and artistic innovation.

Yoon's selection comes after the ISP experienced a temporary hiatus, a decision that drew considerable attention and debate within the art community. The program, which did not accept a cohort for 2025–26, is scheduled to welcome new participants in the fall of 2027. Yoon's background includes serving as the director of the Fine Arts MFA Program at the Parsons School of Design and as an associate professor of art history and visual studies at the New School’s Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts, where she significantly expanded the undergraduate Visual Studies Program.

An alumna of the ISP herself, having been a Helena Rubinstein Critical Studies fellow, Yoon also contributed as a faculty member for over a decade, leading seminars in critical theory. Her deep connection to the program and its ethos, coupled with her extensive academic and leadership experience, positions her to guide the ISP into its next chapter, building on its legacy as a vital space for unconventional inquiry and artistic development.

Soyoung Yoon's leadership at the Whitney's Independent Study Program heralds a new era, promising to uphold and advance the program's tradition of challenging norms and fostering diverse voices in the art world. Her appointment underscores the museum's commitment to intellectual rigor and artistic inquiry, ensuring the ISP remains a beacon for future generations of artists and scholars.