WASHINGTON, D.C., USA – The Association of Science and Technology Center (ASTC) is pleased to welcome new officers and members of its Board of Directors, who will take up their positions at the conclusion of the ASTC Annual Conference on October 10, 2023. The Board provides direction to the association representing organizations committed to public engagement with science, including a core membership of more than 600 science and technology centers and museums and allied organizations in more than 40 countries around the world. ASTC has a vision of increased understanding of and engagement with science and technology among all people.
The new Board members join at an important time as ASTC celebrates its 50th anniversary and looks forward to working with the community to champion public engagement with science, strengthen members and their capacity, and build a more equitable and sustainable future.
Four leaders were elected as officers of the association and will serve two-year terms:
Tim Ritchie, JD, will begin a two-year term as Chair of the ASTC Board of Directors. He is President of the Museum of Science, Boston, Massachusetts and was previously the Chair-Elect. He is also a former Treasurer of the ASTC Board and previously served as President and CEO of both The Tech Interactive (San Jose, California) and McWane Science Center (Birmingham, Alabama).
Erin Graham, MBA, JD, is the new Chair-Elect. She is President and CEO of Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) in Portland, Oregon, and previously served as Member at Large on the ASTC Executive Committee.
Adalene “Nene” Spivy, MBA, is the new Treasurer. She is Executive Director of Children’s Science Center and Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation in Fairfax, Virginia, and previously served as a Director.
Robert Firmhofer is the new Secretary. He is Chief Executive Officer of Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw, Poland, and previously served as a Director.
These new officers are joined by several new directors, who have been elected to three-year terms on the Board:
Chieko Asakawa, PhD
Chief Executive Director
Miraikan, The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
Tokyo, Japan
Michele Crowl, PhD
Executive Director
Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania
State College, Pennsylvania
Jason Cryan, PhD
The Sarah B. George Executive Director
Natural History Museum of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Robin Gose, EdD
President and CEO
MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation
Santa Barbara, California
“ASTC is honored that 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 promote science and technology centers and museums in their shared work to support lifelong science learning, connect science and society, engage diverse audiences, and partner to tackle global and local challenges.”
Several Board members were re-elected to a second term as Directors:
Christian Greer, EdD
President and CEO
Michigan Science Center
Detroit, Michigan
Douglas Jones, PhD
Director
Florida Museum of Natural History
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
JoAnn Newman
President and CEO
Orlando Science Center
Orlando, Florida
Andrés Roldán
Executive Director
Parque Explora
Medellín, Colombia
They will join continuing members, including Immediate Past Chair William T. Harris (President and CEO, Space Center Houston, Texas); Frederic Bertley, PhD (President and CEO, COSI, Columbus, Ohio); Lori Bettison-Varga, PhD (President and Director, Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County, California); Sam Dean (President and CEO, Scott Family Amazeum, Bentonville, Arkansas); Rena Dorph, PhD (Director, Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley, California); Tara MacDougall (President and CEO, Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, Murfreesboro, Tennessee); María Emilia Beyer Ruiz (Director, Universum, Museo de las Ciencias de la UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico); Sara Schapiro (Senior Fellow and Director, Social Innovation, Federation of American Scientists, Washington, D.C.); and Curtis Simmons (President and CEO, Science Center of Iowa, Des Moines).
ASTC is grateful for the dedicated service of four individuals whose terms have concluded:
- Larry Dubinski, JD (President and CEO, The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), who is the Immediate Past Chair
- Catherine Horne (President and CEO, Discovery Place, Charlotte, North Carolina), who is concluding her term as Treasurer
- Tracy Calogheros (Chief Executive Officer, The Exploration Place Museum and Science Centre, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada), who is a Director
- Marilee Jennings (Executive Director, Children’s Discovery Museum, San Jose, California), who is a Director.
About ASTC
Founded in 1973, ASTC is a network of more than 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
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