The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) is pleased to welcome new officers and members of its Board of Directors, who took up their positions at the conclusion of the ASTC Annual Conference earlier this month. The Board provides direction to the association representing organizations committed to public engagement with science, including a core membership of nearly 700 science and technology centers and museums and allied organizations in almost 50 countries around the world. ASTC has a vision of increased understanding of—and engagement with—science and technology among all people.
William T. Harris, President and CEO of Space Center Houston in Houston, Texas, has begun a two-year term as Chair of the ASTC Board of Directors. Harris said he is “humbled and honored to begin my service as Chair of ASTC’s Board of Directors. As a longtime member of ASTC, I am deeply committed to advancing science engagement to empower ASTC member organizations, professional development for my colleagues and help advance science learning in their communities.” He “look[s] forward to working closely with the experienced and dedicated members of the ASTC Board of Directors uniquely qualified to expand the impact science and technology centers and museums have in advancing a future STEM workforce and STEM learning for the public.“
Other members of the 2021–2022 Executive Committee include the following:
Tim Ritchie, President of the Museum of Science in Boston, Massachusetts is the new chair-elect; he previously served as ASTC Treasurer.
Larry Dubinski, President and CEO of The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, transitions to Immediate Past Chair.
Catherine Wilson Horne, President and CEO of Discovery Place in Charlotte, North Carolina, is the new Treasurer; she was previously member-at-large on the Executive Committee.
JoAnn Newman, President and CEO of the Orlando Science Center, is the new Secretary; she was previously member-at-large on the Executive Committee.
In addition, two directors have been selected by the Board of Directors to serve one-year terms as members-at-large on the ASTC Executive Committee:
Tracy Calogheros
Chief Executive Officer
The Exploration Place Museum and Science Centre
Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
Andrés Roldán
Director
Parque Explora
Medellín, Colombia
Five new directors have been elected to serve three-year terms on the Board:
Sam Dean
President and CEO
Scott Family Amazeum
Bentonville, Arkansas, United States
Erin Graham
President and CEO
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
Portland, Oregon, United States
Tara MacDougall
President and CEO
Discovery Center at Murfree Spring
Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States
María Emilia Beyer Ruiz
Director
Universum, Museum de las Ciencias at the National Autonomous University of Mexico
Mexico City, Mexico
Adalene “Nene” Spivy
Executive Director
Children’s Science Center and Foundation for the Northern Virginia Science Center
Fairfax, Virginia, United States
In addition, Frederic Bertley, President and CEO of COSI in Columbus, Ohio, was reelected to a second three-year term on the ASTC Board of Directors.
“ASTC is honored that the these distinguished science center and museum leaders from around the world will be joining our Board of Directors,” said Christofer Nelson, ASTC’s President and CEO. “These individuals bring tremendous expertise and experience and will play a pivotal role in ASTC’s work across North America and globally to champion public engagement with science and support science and technology centers and museums in their shared work to advance lifelong science learning, connect science and society, engage diverse audiences, and partner to tackle global and local challenges.”
Others continuing their service on the Board of Directors include the following: Rena Dorph, Director of The Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley, California; Robert Firmhofer, CEO of Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw, Poland; Christian Greer, President and CEO of Michigan Science Center in Detroit, Michigan; Marilee Jennings, Executive Director of Children’s Discovery Museum in San Jose, California, Doug Jones, Director of the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville, Florida; and Curt Simmons, President and CEO of the Science Center of Iowa in Des Moines, Iowa.
ASTC extends its thanks and appreciation to those who have completed their service on the Board: Guy Labine, Chief Executive Officer/Directeur général of Science North in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada; Kirsten Ellenbogen, President and CEO of Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, Ohio; Jeffrey Rudolph, President and CEO of California Science Center in Los Angeles, California; and Rosalia Vargas, President of Ciência Viva in Lisbon, Portugal. In addition, Lucy Hale, former President and CEO of EcoTarium in Worcester, Massachusetts stepped down from the Board earlier this year upon her departure from EcoTarium.