Catherine Oppenheimer

Catherine Oppenheimer is widely recognized for her leadership in arts education and her transformative work founding and developing cultural programs throughout New Mexico.

Catherine co-founded the National Dance Institute of New Mexico, where she served as Artistic and Executive Director, and later co-founded the New Mexico School for the Arts, the state’s first chartered residential high school for the performing and visual arts. Earlier in her career, she danced with the New York City Ballet and the Twyla Tharp Dance Company.

Her work has garnered several awards including a National Arts and Humanities Award: Coming Up Taller Award; a United States Department of Education National Blue Ribbon for closing the achievement gap; and a Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.

A returning board member, Catherine served as a Save the Children US Trustees from 2015 to 2021 and on the Save the Children Action Network board from 2020 to 2023. She also serves as Trustee of the Exodus Ensemble and NDI New Mexico, and advisor to Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains is on the Advisory Council for the Center for Ballet and the Arts at New York University.