Press
CMOM Press Release – Children’s Museum of Manhattan Announces Executive Director Andrew Ackerman to Step Down After Three Decades of Distinguished Service
06/04/2019
From: Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Contact: Adam Miller amiller@rubenstein.com, 212-843-8032
Kyle Sklerov ksklerov@rubenstein.com, 212-843-8486
For Immediate Release
Children’s Museum of Manhattan Announces Executive Director Andrew Ackerman to Step Down After Three Decades of Distinguished Service
Museum’s Board to Launch National Search for Next Executive Director
NEW YORK – June 3, 2019 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) today announced that, after a distinguished 29-year career as Executive Director of the museum, Andrew Ackerman has shared his intention to step down from the position, effective June 30, 2019. Ackerman, who steered the institution to exceptional growth during his three decades of service and leadership, will transition to the role of Senior Advisor to the Board, and will be honored at CMOM’s gala on Oct. 29, 2019.
A search committee led by CMOM’s Board of Directors will immediately begin the process of finding a new Executive Director. In the interim, CMOM will be led by a senior leadership team comprised of its Chief Operating Officer Jacques Brunswick, Chief Advancement Officer Jane McIntosh and Deputy Director of Education and Guest Services Leslie Bushara.
During Ackerman’s tenure, CMOM’s annual attendance grew to 350,000 people, becoming a leading family destination and a citywide resource. Yearly, some 50,000 underserved people from all five boroughs enjoy free or reduced admission and tens of thousands more throughout the city benefit from the museum’s outreach programs at schools, libraries, hospitals, and through CMOM’s permanent learning hubs at homeless shelters and Head Start centers.
Under Ackerman’s direction, the museum has garnered national and international recognition for leadership projects and cemented its position as a thought leader through partnerships with major universities, including New York University, Barnard College, Hunter College and Johns Hopkins University. CMOM also has developed and hosted numerous blockbuster interactive exhibits including the groundbreaking “Eat Sleep Play™: Building Health Every Day,” “Art Inside Out,” and “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far,” the latter of which is currently on tour in the U.S. Also during Ackerman’s tenure, CMOM’s partnerships with elected and appointed officials throughout New York and across the country have flourished, and the museum has deepened its relationships with local community leaders.
To realize fully its mission, double the number of visitors and meet the demand for programs for disadvantaged audiences, Ackerman guided the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s purchase of 361 Central Park West in late 2017, a space that, when complete, will serve more than 750,000 visitors a year. The project is currently in the design phase.
“Andy has been an extraordinary leader for CMOM and we thank him for his years of dedicated service to the museum,” said Board co-chair Matthew Messinger. “Thanks to his vision, the museum is well-positioned to thrive as we enter this next phase in our journey. There is an extremely qualified senior leadership team already in place and we are fortunate to have the benefit of Andy’s expertise and counsel as we move forward.”
“Andy has been an incredible asset to the museum and his impact will be felt for years to come,” said Board co-chair Shannon Bauer Aronson “We will always be profoundly grateful to Andy for his three decades of distinguished service, remarkable leadership and vision, and sense of commitment and passion for the institution and its mission to help children and families thrive at home, at school, and in the community. Andy has positioned the museum for an exciting future. We wish him all the best during the next chapter in his life and look forward to working with him to create a fabulous museum in its new location.”
“It’s truly been an honor and privilege to serve as Executive Director of CMOM for the past 29 years, and to work alongside such a talented and dedicated staff and Board,” said Andrew Ackerman. “I’m immensely proud of all that we’ve accomplished here. My decision, made in concert with the Board of Directors, to step down as Executive Director at this time will enable the Museum to recruit leadership to complete the move to the new facility and to operate the new museum for years to come. The museum’s future is exciting and the leadership team is strong.”
Prior to leading the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Ackerman was director of the Arts in Education Program of the New York State Council on the Arts and, before then, served as director of education and assistant director of The Jewish Museum. He also has served as president of the Association of Children’s Museums, was a member of the Executive Committee of the NYC Arts Coalition and has served as a panelist for the NEH, IMLS and the Doris Duke Foundation.
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About Children’s Museum of Manhattan
By creating experiences at the intersection of the arts, sciences and the humanities, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan helps children and families thrive at home, at school, and in the community. These experiences include exhibitions, classes, workshops, performances, and festivals. Based on research, evaluation, and testing, CMOM’s programs and exhibits are designed to address the multiple ways children learn and to help parents understand and support their children’s development. The Museum’s special areas of focus – selected for their ability to benefit children throughout their lives – include early childhood education, creativity, health, and world cultures. For more information about CMOM, please visit www.cmom.org.
