The Association of Science and Technology Center (ASTC) has announced the results of the election for its Board of Directors for a term that will begin at the conclusion of the ASTC 2024 Annual Conference on October 1. The Board provides direction to the association representing organizations committed to public engagement with science, including a core membership of nearly 600 science and technology centers and museums and allied organizations in more than three dozen countries around the world. ASTC has a vision of increased understanding of and engagement with science and technology among all people.
One science center leader was newly elected to a three-year term on the Board, with three others reelected to a second term:
Chief Executive Officer
Science North
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
A scientist by training, Larose began her career as a research scientist and her master’s research introduced advanced genomic techniques to freshwater research. A recipient of Greater Sudbury’s 40 under 40 (2019) award, she is also committed to community service, having served on numerous boards and committees including, Cambrian College’s International Business Advisory Committee, City of Sudbury Tourism Governance Board, Themed Entertainment Association North American Board, International Amusement Park and Attractions Association Eastern North America Board and the City of Sudbury Development Committee.
Sam Dean, MEd (reelected to a second term)
Chief Executive Officer
Scott Family Amazeum
Bentonville, Arkansas, United States
Dean is the founding director of the Scott Family Amazeum, a museum dedicated to creating communities infused with arts and sciences, cultivating curiosity and creativity, and inspiring generations of Makers and doers. Dean himself was recognized in 2023 with a C-Suite award from the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal, and in 2024 with an Honorary Degree in Arts and Letters from the Northwest Arkansas Community College in recognition for community service. He has served as co-chair of the ASTC Awards Committee.
Tara MacDougall (reelected to a second term)
President and Chief Executive Officer
Discovery Center at Murfree Spring
Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States
MacDougall started in the industry as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Discovery Center subsequently becoming the museum’s President and CEO. She was drawn to the field because of the capacity of informal learning to drive transformational moments in the life of a child, as well as serving to broaden access to opportunities that connect curiosity with STEM careers. MacDougall currently serves as co-chair of the ASTC Advocacy, Casemaking, and Engagement Committee.
María Emilia Beyer Ruiz (reelected to a second term)
Director
Universum, Museo de las Ciencias de la UNAM
Mexico City, Mexico
Ruiz is a biologist who has published nine books to promote science appreciation in Spanish and is an enthusiastic scientific storyteller through mass media communications. The Director of Universum, the science museum of the National Autonomous University of Mexico since 2020, she got her start as an exhibitor designer for museums throughout Mexico. Ruiz serves as a member of the ASTC Advocacy, Casemaking, and Engagement Committee.
They join other continuing members of the Board of Directors, whose names and affiliations are listed below.
“ASTC is grateful for the service of these distinguished science center and museum leaders,” said Christofer Nelson, ASTC’s President and CEO. “Our new Board member, as with all of those who serve on our Board of Directors, brings tremendous insight and important perspectives on our field as we work together to increase understanding of an engagement with science and technology among all people.”
ASTC is grateful for the dedicated service of Frederic Bertley, PhD, President and CEO of COSI in Columbus, Ohio, whose term will conclude on September 30.
The election slate was selected by ASTC’s Nominating Committee. Members of this year’s committee include William T. Harris, Chair (President and CEO, Space Center Houston, Texas); Lori Bettison-Varga, PhD (President and Director, Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County, California); Lindsay Bierman, MA (William and Sakurako Fisher Executive Director and CEO, Exploratorium, San Francisco, California); Erin Graham, MBA, JD, (President and CEO, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland); Paul Hoffman (CEO and President, Liberty Science Center and SciTech Scity, Jersey City, New Jersey); Stephanie Ratcliffe, MAT (Executive Director, The Wild Center, Tupper Lake, New York); and Tim Ritchie, MPA, JD (President, Museum of Science, Boston, Massachusetts).
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About ASTC
Founded in 1973, ASTC is a network of around 600 science and technology centers and museums, and allied organizations, engaging more than 110 million people annually across North America and in more than 40 countries. With its members and partners, ASTC works towards a vision of increased understanding of and engagement with science and technology among all people. www.astc.org
Follow ASTC on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram @ScienceCenters.
ASTC BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2024–2025
OFFICERS
Tim Ritchie, MPA, JD, Chair
President
Museum of Science
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Erin Graham, MBA, JD, Chair-Elect
President and CEO
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
Portland, Oregon, United States
Adalene “Nene” Spivy, MBA, Treasurer
Chief Executive Officer
Children’s Science Center and Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation
Fairfax, Virginia, United States
Robert Firmhofer, Secretary
Chief Executive Officer
Copernicus Science Center
Warsaw, Poland
William T. Harris, Immediate Past Chair
President and CEO
Space Center Houston
Houston, Texas, United States
Christofer Nelson, President and CEO
MEMBERS
Chieko Asakawa, PhD
Chief Executive Director
Miraikan, The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
Tokyo, Japan
Lori Bettison-Varga, PhD
President and Director
Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County
Los Angeles, California, United States
Michele Crowl, PhD
Executive Director
Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania
State College, Pennsylvania, United States
Jason Cryan, PhD
The Sarah B. George Director
Natural History Museum of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Sam Dean, MEd
President and CEO
Scott Family Amazeum
Bentonville, Arkansas, United States
Rena Dorph, PhD
Director
Lawrence Hall of Science
Berkeley, California, United States
Robin Gose, EdD
President and CEO
MOXI, The World Museum of Exploration + Innovation
Santa Barbara, California, United States
Christian Greer, EdD
President and CEO
Michigan Science Center
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Douglas Jones, PhD
Director
Florida Museum of Natural History
Gainesville, Florida, United States
Ashley Larose, MSc
Chief Executive Officer
Science North
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Tara MacDougall
President and CEO
Discovery Center of Murfree Spring
Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States
JoAnn Newman
President and CEO
Orlando Science Center
Orlando, Florida, United States
Andrés Roldán
Executive Director
Parque Explora
Medellín, Colombia
María Emilia Beyer Ruiz
Director
Universum, Museo de las Ciencias de la UNAM
Mexico City, Mexico
Sara Schapiro, MPP
Executive Director
Alliance for Learning Innovation (ALI)
Washington, D.C., United States
Curtis Simmons
President and CEO
Science Center of Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa, United States