Photo Hillsman Jackson, courtesy Southern Methodist University

DALLAS – The Meadows Museum of Southern Methodist University mourns the loss of its director, Dr Mark A. Roglán. He passed away from cancer on October 5 at the age of 50. The announcement comes on the heels of his 20th anniversary with the institution, the leading center in the United States for exhibition, research and education in the arts and culture of Spain, which he had led as director since 2006. Under his leadership the museum tripled attendance; developed a major program of international exhibitions; created meaningful fellowships; produced insightful publications; constructed a new sculpture garden and outdoor spaces; made major acquisitions nearly doubling the collection; developed engaging and accessible educational programs; established strategic alliances with major museums worldwide; and raised millions of dollars in funding, most recently gifts totaling $6 million to establish a research institute.

A native of Madrid, Dr Roglán joined the Meadows Museum as interim curator and adjunct assistant professor of art history in August 2001. He became curator of collections in January 2002 and senior curator in June 2004. Following a nationwide search, he was promoted to director in 2006, and after a $1 million dollar gift in 2013 establishing an endowment for the position, he became the Linda P. and William A. Custard Director of the Meadows Museum and Centennial Chair in the Meadows School of the Arts at SMU.

On August 26, 2021, he presided over the founding of a new research institute within the museum, the Custard Institute for Spanish Art and Culture, established by gifts from the Custard family and the Meadows Foundation. The Custard’s gift named the director of the new institute in his honor.

Before coming to the Meadows Museum, Dr Roglán worked as a curatorial fellow and a research associate in the Nineteenth Century painting and sculpture department of the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid. Prior to his tenure at the Prado, Dr Roglán served as a drawings department assistant with the Fogg Museum at Harvard University. Dr Roglán received master’s degrees in both world history and art history and a doctorate in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century art from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. In 2013 he obtained an MBA from the Cox School of Business at SMU.

Dr Roglán is preceded in death by his father earlier this year. He is survived by his wife and their four children, a brother in Atlanta, and his mother in Madrid.

Plans for a memorial service are pending at this time; contributions in his memory can be made to either the Meadows Museum Art Acquisitions Fund (PO Box 750357, Dallas, TX 75275-0357) or UT Southwestern Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center (PO Box 910888, Dallas, TX 75391-0888).