In something of a homecoming, the former Whitney Museum executive Donna De Salvo will be returning to the Dia Art Foundation — where she worked as a curator in the 1980s — in the newly created role of senior adjunct curator, special projects, beginning in January.

Ms. De Salvo, 64, whose extensive expertise on Warhol was on view the acclaimed show of his work at the Whitney last year, is coming off 15 years at that museum, where she most recently served as deputy director of international initiatives and senior curator.

“For me, it’s a continuation of the work I’ve been committed to my whole career,” Ms. De Salvo said in a telephone interview, “a deep belief in collections as active, organic things. Every generation interprets them differently.

“They need to grow," she added, referring in particular to the importance of adding more work by women artists, “they also need to, at times, catch up.”