Chris Warden appointed Executive Director

The C.M. Russell Museum board of directors named Chris Warden as the museum’s new executive director. He will begin July 30th. Warden is a Great Falls native with a 30-year career in business and decades of nonprofit board service. Warden will relocate to Great Falls and will begin work in July 2024. He was selected after a national search led by Senior Search Consultant, Suzanne Tan.  

Warden has served two decades as vice president of technology at the Washington Companies in Missoula, where he has led the technology, communications, and continuous improvement teams for the Dennis Washington-owned companies across North America. He and his family returned to Montana in 2004, after working in Silicon Valley, Calif.  

In addition to serving on the C.M. Russell Museum board, Warden has served on the boards of the Foundation for Montana History, Leadership Montana, Watson Children’s Shelter, and Missoula Sunrise Rotary. He also has also sat on advisory boards at the University of Montana and currently serves on the Montana steering committee for the Jeannette Rankin Foundation. Warden recently received the Tom Scott Award for Excellence in Leadership, named in honor of the founder of First Interstate Bank and a founder of Leadership Montana, for his significant contributions to Leadership Montana and the state. Warden is a graduate of C.M. Russell High School and the University of Montana. 

Warden has served two decades as vice president of technology at the Washington Companies in Missoula, where he has led the technology, communications, and continuous improvement teams for the Dennis Washington-owned companies across North America. He and his family returned to Montana in 2004, after working in Silicon Valley, Calif.  

In addition to serving on the C.M. Russell Museum board, Warden has served on the boards of the Foundation for Montana History, Leadership Montana, Watson Children’s Shelter, and Missoula Sunrise Rotary. He also has also sat on advisory boards at the University of Montana and currently serves on the Montana steering committee for the Jeannette Rankin Foundation. Warden recently received the Tom Scott Award for Excellence in Leadership, named in honor of the founder of First Interstate Bank and a founder of Leadership Montana, for his significant contributions to Leadership Montana and the state. Warden is a graduate of C.M. Russell High School and the University of Montana. 

Melissa Edwards appointed Executive Director

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, NH, has appointed Melissa Edwards as Executive Director. She will begin July 7. MS&R Senior Search Consultant, Dan Yaeger, led the search.

Edwards comes to the museum from the Seattle area with a 20- year career in museum education, community engagement, and space workforce development, with leadership in both the nonprofit and private sectors. For thirteen years Edwards was in senior leadership positions with The Museum of Flight in Seattle, the largest private aerospace museum in the U.S. There, she created highly acclaimed programs in conjunction with NASA, Boeing, and other partners. Most recently she played a leadership role in recruiting personnel for aerospace manufacturer Blue Origin. Edwards holds a Master of Teaching and a B.A. in History, both from The Evergreen State College, in Olympia and Tacoma, WA.

MSDC Board President Bruce Andrews stated, “At this important moment of transition for us, we are delighted to have recruited Melissa from Seattle to join the Discovery Center.”

Edwards is taking over for long-time MSDC director Jeanne Gerulskis, who is retiring after 27 years at the helm. “Jeanne has put her heart and soul into the Discovery Center and built it into what it is today,” said Andrews. “We are deeply grateful for her contributions.”

Edwards said, “I am a big believer in inspiring folks about the universe because I think that can help us understand ourselves and take care of our Earth better. The MSDC has great potential to connect people with the cosmos, and so I am incredibly excited to serve the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center.”

Karen Knecht appointed Executive Director

The Lancaster Science Factory in Pennsylvania has appointed Karen Knecht as their next Executive Director. Knecht will begin her new role August 7, 2024. MS&R Senior Search Consultant Dan Yaeger led the search.

Knecht built her career at the Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown, PA, where for 24 years she has served in a variety of educational roles culminating with her most recent title as Senior Director of STEAM Education. She has led numerous initiatives at Da Vinci that focused on science learning and career/workforce development, and she recently served as part of the strategic leadership team in the organization’s expansion to a new facility in downtown Allentown. Knecht holds a B.S. in Biology from Cedar Crest College in Allentown, and Secondary Education Certification. She will complete her Master’s in Educational Leadership (M.Ed.) in Spring 2025 at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA.

LSF Board President Rich Young said, “For this important leadership position, Karen’s deep knowledge and love of STEM education, as well as her career in museum leadership, will secure our science center’s continued success.”

“While I have enjoyed my experience at Da Vinci, I am incredibly excited to bring the skills I developed there to the Lancaster Science Factory,” said Knecht. “LSF is an incredible asset to Lancaster and the region, and I look forward to helping the organization grow its impact.”

Yao Wu appointed Curator of Chinese Art and Culture 

We are pleased to announce that the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM), in Salem, Massachusetts, has appointed Yao Wu as the museum’s first Huang Family Curator of Chinese Art and Culture, effective March 4, 2024. MS&R Senior Search Consultant Connie Rosemont led the international search.

Gavin Kleespies appointed Executive Director

We are pleased to announce that Gore Place, the historic house museum and farm in Waltham and Watertown, Massachusetts, has appointed Gavin Kleespies as its next Executive Director, effective January 2, 2024. The nationwide search was led by MS&R Senior Search Consultant Scott Stevens.

Andrew Dunehoo appointed Executive Director

We are pleased to announce that the Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA) in Kearney, NE has appointed Andrew Dunehoo as its new executive director as it prepares to reopen next year after a major renovation and facility construction expansion. Dunehoo was hired after a national search lead by MS&R senior search consultant Suzanne Tan. He replaces Nicole Herden, who left in July to become executive director of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Dunehoo’s first day at MONA was November 6, 2023.

Emily Dunnack appointed Director of Learning and Engagement

Emily Dunnack is the new Director of Learning and Engagement at the New Britain Museum of American Art. MS&R Senior Search Consultant Lora Urbanelli led the national search. Dunnack joined the leadership team at New Britain in December 2023.