As the search begins for a replacement of the lionized late Museum of Fine Arts, Houston director, Peter C. Marzio, the entire state of Texas faces a growing vacancy of museum administrative positions.

Notably, the Dallas Museum of Art director Bonnie Pitman will step down from her position in May. Citing health reasons for her departure, Pitman is credited for overseeing the addition of 3,500 works of art to the museum's collection since she became deputy director in 2000.

The administrator was appointed to the position of Eugene McDermott Director in 2008. In the wake of a recession, Pitman spearheaded innovative collection-based programming while improving visitor engagement with "smART phone tours." Like Marzio, Pitman gained respect for drawing major touring exhibitions, including shows on J.M.W. Turner and Luc Tuymans. Senior curator of European and American art Olivier Meslay is currently serving as interim director.

As a large encyclopedic art museum, the DMA shares a similar position in the Dallas community as the MFAH in Houston. To what extent the director search committees are in direct competition for prime candidates will may never rise to the fore, but both museums likely agree on such criteria as financial knowhow, curatorial vision and innovative community engagement. The museum is still in the process of forming a search committee.

The DMA and MFAH aren't the only Texas art institutions on the lookout for new leadership. Although smaller, the San Antonio contemporary art enclave Artpace is in the throes of a search to replace former executive director Matthew Drutt, the onetime chief curator at the Menil Collection. As Artpace development director Mary Heathcott serves as interim director, Drutt is pursuing independent curatorial projects — among them, the exhibition At the Back of the North Wind. On view during the 54th Venice Biennale, the exhibition is presented by the Flo Art Fund and Blaffer Art Museum.

Back in Houston, reports have surfaced of Emily Todd resigning from her post as deputy director of the Menil Collection. A veteran of the Houston arts scene, Todd's past experience includes curatorial positions at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and serving as executive director of DiverseWorks. Todd's position was created in 2008 by director Josef Helfenstein. "Emily has a lot of other interests," says the Menil's Vance Muse. "It's not necessarily an opening we're looking to fill."

Underscoring the state's rupture in museum leadership is the April 11 announcement that Austin's ArtHouse will eliminate the position of "Curator and Associate Director," previously held by Elizabeth Dunbar, in favor of guest curators.

Whether the new guard of museum administrators will bolster the state's institutions and foster new talent remains to be seen. As the MFAH's selection committee consists of long-time trustees and is riding on Marzio's strong precedent, it is likely that the Houston museum will garner the top talent.