The Martha’s Vineyard Museum has named Dr. Keith Gorman, the museum’s director of programs and archivist and librarian, to the new position of museum director.

With the creation of the new position, Mr. Gorman will be responsible for the museum’s operations, programs, staff, capital campaign, and the proposed museum move from Edgartown to West Tisbury.

The museum’s current executive director, Matthew Stackpole, will retain that job, with a focus on playing a leading role with Mr. Gorman in the new museum project and capital campaign, consulting on major museum strategic, programmatic, and policy initiatives, and overseeing the lighthouse restoration projects.

The board of directors also has announced that Chris Morse, owner of the Granary Gallery, has been named chairman of the board.

Mr. Gorman joined the Vineyard museum two and a half years ago after working at the Smithsonian’s archives in Washington, D.C.

Receiving his doctorate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in history, Mr. Gorman taught history at a number of Boston-area universities and 10 years at Simmons College.

“I am very excited about this new opportunity, since it will allow me to assist in the museum’s continued success as well as to position the museum for its eventual move to West Tisbury,” he said. “I am happy to be working closely with Matthew to raise the museum’s visibility and reach in the community and to plan for our future programs.”

Under Mr. Stackpole’s leadership over the past seven years, the museum has experienced significant growth in staff, program, and visibility.

“I am pleased Keith brings his experience and considerable organizational and leadership skills to this new position and our growing organization,” Mr. Stackpole said. “The overarching goal is to create a team that, through division of responsibilities and mutual support, results in a stronger and more effective organization.”

Mr. Morse, the new chairman, said: “We are at a very exciting point. The opportunity to be involved in making the museum more accessible to the whole Island is thrilling.”