ROCKLAND (AP) – The assistant director of a museum in Providence, R.I., with 20 years experience as a curator and administrator has been named the new director of the Farnsworth Art Museum.

Lora Urbanelli, who has worked at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum since 1985, will begin on Jan. 17.

Her appointment was the result of a nine-month national search to fill the position after director Christopher Crosman resigned earlier this year. Urbanelli, 49, was one of five finalists, said Anne Jenkins, president of the museum’s board of trustees.

“Her exceptionally strong museum background and impressive record demonstrate both strength of leadership and excellent management skills,” Jenkins said.

A native of Philadelphia, Urbanelli first worked at the Yale University Art Gallery. In 1985, she went to the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, where she served as assistant curator, associate curator and curator before being named assistant director in 1999.

“The Farnsworth has so many wonderful qualities,” Urbanelli said. “The thing that attracted me was that it is an important regional museum and has a national reputation.”

The Farnsworth is one of Maine’s most prominent art museums, and includes a gallery and study center devoted to the Maine-related work of N.C., Andrew and Jamie Wyeth.

Crosman, who was the Farnsworth Museum director for 17 years, resigned earlier this year and has since taken the job as curator of the $50 million dollar Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art being built by the heirs to Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton in Arkansas.

The 100,000 square-foot facility is scheduled to open in 2009.