For Immediate Release

ARLINGTON, VA – The American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the only organization representing the entire scope of the museum community, today announced that five leading professionals from the museum field have been newly elected to the board of directors, serving three-year terms. The incoming board members are:

• Dina Bailey, CEO, Mountain Top Vision, Atlanta, GA
• Carole Charnow, President & CEO, Boston Children’s Museum, MA
• Ann Friedman, Founder & CEO, Planet Word, Washington, DC
• Linda Harrison, Director & CEO, The Newark Museum of Art, NJ
• Julissa Marenco, Assistant Secretary & Chief Marketing Officer, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC

Chevy Humphrey, President & CEO of the Museum of Science and Industry, enters into her second year as Board Chair. Jorge Zamanillo, Executive Director at HistoryMiami Museum, will serve a second term as Treasurer and Kippen de Alba Chu, Interim President of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, will serve a second term as Immediate Past Chair. Nathan Richie, Director of Golden History Museum & Park, and Karol Wight, President & Executive Director of the Corning Museum of Glass, were both re-elected for a second three-year term. See the full list of the Alliance’s board of directors.

“This incredible group of museum leaders joins the Alliance board during a critical time for AAM and museums,” said Laura L. Lott, Alliance President and CEO. “I am confident their experience, insight, and perspectives will continue to help strengthen our mission as we near the end of our five-year strategic plan and set our sights on rebuilding from the impacts of the last year.”

As the Alliance celebrates its 115-year anniversary, as well as the 50-year anniversary of Accreditation and 40-year anniversary of the Museum Assessment Program, this year, the Alliance also celebrates the most racially and ethnically diverse board of directors in its history. “The Alliance’s commitment to furthering DEAI and representation in the museum field and aspirations for itself has been paramount,” said Chevy Humphrey, AAM Board Chair and President & CEO of the Museum of Science and Industry. “While there is always more work to be done, the diversity of the board demonstrates the power of setting aspirational goals and holding ourselves accountable. We are thrilled to have these incredible leaders join the board at this pivotal juncture.”

The Alliance is grateful to the board members whose service ends this year: Susana Bautista, Director and Chief Curator, AltaMed Art Collection; Cinnamon Catlin Legutko, Director, Illinois State Museum; Berit N. Durler, Trustee Emeritus, San Diego Zoo Global; Ruth Shelly, former Executive Director, Portland Children’s Museum, and Stephanie Stebich, the Margaret and Terry Stent Director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Their leadership has been instrumental in fulfilling the Alliance’s mission and strategic goals.

 

About the American Alliance of Museums

The American Alliance of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. Representing more than 35,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, institutions, and corporate partners serving the museum field, the Alliance stands for the broad scope of the museum community. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.

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Media Contact:

Natanya Khashan
Director, Marketing & Communications
American Alliance of Museums