Remembering Sherry Wagner-Henry

Long-term UMTAD Managing Director and supporter of the 'Centennial Showboat' passes away
Image of Sherry Wagner-Henry
Courtesy of Kathleen Spehar

Sherry Wagner-Henry (1966-2020) passed away on May 30, 2020.

With her fierce belief in the power of the arts to create strong communities and in education to shape capable and compassionate leadership, Sherry had a profound impact on the UMN Theatre Arts and Dance department. She served as UMTAD's Managing Director beginning in the early 1990's and developed many deep, life-long friendships. She mentored dozens of theatre students in the business of the arts, launched arts administration course work, and devoted incredible amounts of energy into reviving and promoting the Minnesota Centennial Showboat. The Showboat not only became a one-of-a-kind professional development opportunity for undergraduate theatre students, but also a wildly successful arts, business and community development project. It was here that she met and fell in love with Brent "Mickey" Henry, a former technical director for the department. Sherry and Mickey married on the Showboat on August 30, 2003.

Community building was one of Sherry’s greatest joys. At work, she continually built connections everywhere - across departments at the university, across the Twin Cities, and across the nation, all to advance excellence in the arts and cultural sector. She was actively engaged with Twin Cities arts organizations, the Association of Arts Administration Educators (AAAE), United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), and The Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2R2), as a board member, trusted advisor, and collaborator. In 2009, after eighteen years in the Department of Theatre and Dance, her big ideas took her to the College of Continuing Education as Director of Graduate Studies for the Master of Liberal Studies Program (MLS) at the University of Minnesota. In collaboration with her wonderfully creative staff, Sherry created multiple degree programs for MLS. Most significantly, she helped to create and shepherded the start of the Master of Professional Studies in Arts and Cultural Leadership. Her work was being noticed by other universities throughout the country, and in 2012, Sherry accepted the role as Director of the Bolz Center for Arts Administration in the prestigious UW-Madison School of Business MBA.

In her work and life, Sherry was a creative visionary with a generous heart. She helped people discover their strengths, hone their talents, and find the confidence to believe in themselves and their dreams. She listened to everyone’s story with sincere interest, and made you feel like you were the only person in the room. She inspired everyone who met her to engage in community building, strive for excellence, and find their purpose in life. She consistently fostered women's leadership, was a fierce advocate for those around her, and would drop everything to help a student, friend, or family-member bring their ideas to life. 

Many were touched by Sherry’s remarkable generosity and spirit. The breadth and depth of her impact is shining bright.

Sending love and health to Sherry’s family and all who mourn her. 

Visit and contribute stories and photos to Sherry's online memorial at forevermissed.com/sherry-wagner-henry/about. You can post stories, tributes, memories, photos and videos as well as read stories and see pictures that celebrate Sherry. Collectively, your contributions in this forum will shape a lasting gift of memories celebrating Sherry's life.
Make a donation to carry on Sherry’s legacy. USITT (United States Institute for Theater Technology) has set up an arts administration scholarship fund in Sherry’s name. The scholarship will provide internship and professional development opportunities for students pursuing careers in arts administration. Visit usitt.org/swh and write "New Century Fund in memory of Sherry Wagner Henry."
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