Cleveland Museum of Natural History

🎉 The Museum is proud to announce the appointment of Susan Donlan as the newest Chair of its Board of Directors! 🎉 Donlan steps into this role after serving more than four years on the Museum’s Board and acting as its Vice Chair since 2023. She succeeds Sally Zlotnick Sears, who joined the board in 2014 and served as Chair since September 2021. With more than 20 years of experience in corporate communications and a strong commitment to the Cleveland community, Donlan brings a wealth of expertise at a pivotal time in the Museum’s history—the Grand Opening of a $150 million transformation this December. For more information, visit the Museum’s digital press room: https://lnkd.in/eJ8f6TtF

🚨 NOW HIRING: Freelance Social Media Manager 🚨 The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is seeking an innovative and self-motivated Social Media Manager to develop and oversee the Museum’s social media strategy! Interested? Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eebrvQ8z

We enjoyed a slam DUNK tour of the Museum with Congresswoman Shontel Brown this week! We were honored to discuss the vision behind the Museum's transformation project and show off our stunning new Visitor Hall. The Congresswoman also made stops in the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center and Woods Garden Presented by Keybank, and Smead Discovery Center—Presented by PNC to help us inspire the next generation of scientists.

Last week, the Museum welcomed U.S. Representative Max Miller for a tour of the new Visitor Hall. We look forward to another visit after our Grand Opening in December! 🦕

Join us in congratulating Museum President & CEO, Sonia Winner, for her selection to Cleveland Leadership Center's Class of 2025! Sonia will be joining an impressive group of leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to Cleveland. We can't wait to see all they accomplish during this immersive experience. Congratulations, Sonia!

It's official! 🎉 This month, the Museum hosted a special chairing ceremony—its first in 21 years—recognizing Associate Curator Dr. Emma Finestone as the Museum's inaugural Robert J. and Linnet E. Fritz Endowed Chair of Human Origins. In addition to providing an important source of funding, an endowed chair serves as an acknowledgment of Dr. Finestone’s commitment to her field, the community, and the advancement of knowledge. Her research uses archaeological fieldwork to investigate adaptive shifts in the human lineage that relate to the early manufacture and use of stone tools. Congratulations, Dr. Finestone! This generous gift from Robert “Bob” and Linnet Fritz not only supports this endowed position, but the Museum's transformation campaign, and our iconic exhibit of Lucy. To learn more: https://lnkd.in/evH5nkBc

From education and research to the preservation of Ohio natural areas, if you ❤️ all aspects of the Museum, consider making a donation to the Annual Fund! This fiscal year, we have: 🖍 Engaged 30,297 students through in-person and virtual experiences 🦖 Engaged 99,290 visitors through public outreach and Museum trips The Museum's current fiscal year comes to an end this Sunday, June 30, and donations of any amount make a difference in our mission. Learn more and make your donation online at give.cmnh.org.

A heartfelt congratulations to Museum astronomer, Destiny Thomas! Destiny was recently named one of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Greater Cleveland Chapter's She Leads 100 Honorees for 2024. This award celebrates outstanding Black women innovators and their significant contributions that inspire the next generation of leaders—something that is a daily occurrence for Destiny. As an educator on the Museum’s Astronomy Team, Destiny has served more than 4,000 individuals through school programs, public-facing presentations, Museum tours, seasonal camps and community events. She earned her B.A. in physics and astronomy with a minor concentration in philosophy from Emory University. Last year, she was featured as one of Crain’s 20 in their 20’s, and can now add NC100BW’s 2024 Education-STEAM “She Leads” award to her list of well-deserved accolades. Congratulations, Destiny!

Happy anniversary to us! 🎉 When the Cleveland Museum of Natural History was first founded in 1920, it opened in a small room in a business office at the old Lennox Building at Euclid Avenue and 9th street. But in 1922, the Museum moved to a new location—the former Leonard Hanna house at 2717 Euclid Avenue (pictured here). In this new location, the Museum was able to present its first exhibit featuring the A.C. Ernst Collection of moths and butterflies. And on June 24, 1922, the public was invited to explore Cleveland's newest museum for the first time! This move was a pivotal moment as the Museum furthered its ambition to become an agency for the diffusion of knowledge, as its founders envisioned. The Museum later moved to its current location at Wade Oval Drive in 1958, and since its founding, the Museum has continued to evolve and expand in numerous ways—but this anniversary is an amazing reminder of how far we have come.

What a wonderful afternoon spent with Crain's Cleveland Business 2024 #WomenofNote! It was an honor to recognize these leaders for their outstanding work, vision, and impact on the community. This year's class truly represents the best of the region. Hats off to all the 2024 Honorees, including Museum President & CEO Sonia Winner, whose leadership is transforming the Museum experience. https://lnkd.in/dJSNTNmV