Amy Templeton, Chief Executive Officer of McWane Science Center to retire, national search for new CEO is underway
Amy Templeton has announced her retirement as President and CEO of the McWane Science Center effective at the end of 2024. Since 2012, Amy has led McWane through an impressive decade of growth, including the launch of Itty-Bitty Magic City and ushering McWane through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic. Amy also led the renovation and digitization of the IMAX theater, the creation of early education programs, enhanced overall visitor experience, and led McWane Science Center’s expansion to serve almost every county in the state.
“It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to lead this remarkable organization for the past twelve years,” shared Amy. “I am excited to see all that the future holds for McWane Science Center, and I look forward to remaining one of its most passionate cheerleaders.”
Stephen Owens, Chairman of the Board, continued, “Amy has created quite the legacy at MSC. She established a great culture for the team that improved our guest experience and provided organizational and financial stability in some of our most difficult times. We are incredibly thankful for her contribution to the center.”
The Board of Trustees has formed a search committee, in collaboration with ZRG Partners, to find McWane Science Center’s next CEO, who will help sustain our legacy. The future CEO will be expected to continue championing a bold vision for McWane to become one of the nation’s top hands-on STEM education centers, inspiring and preparing the next generation of America’s workforce.
The new CEO will lead McWane Science Center into a new era, driving its mission to spark wonder and curiosity through innovative programming, engaging exhibits, strategic partnerships, and a steadfast commitment to delivering hands-on STEM education to visitors from across Alabama and beyond.
About McWane Science Center
McWane Science Center is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) science center, children’s museum, natural history museum, aquarium, and IMAX® Dome Theater. McWane is the result of the merger of two Birmingham icons–the Red Mountain Museum and Discovery Place Museum. Together with government officials, multiple municipalities, private corporations and foundations, and some very dedicated individuals, McWane Science Center opened in the middle of downtown Birmingham on July 11,1998.
McWane’s educational programs and activities occurring within our museum exhibitions and on-site classrooms as well as our McWane on the Move outreach programs delivered in school classrooms across Alabama are a point of pride. The STEM Education Department programs and services are provided to prekindergarten through 12th grade students and teachers as well as libraries throughout the state. We are serving as a hub for the STEM Learning Ecosystem championed by the Governor. McWane’s natural history collection houses over half-a-million objects and specimens related to the archaeology, paleontology, and zoology of Alabama. The McWane Collection is both Federal and State repository and serves as a center for scientific research.
McWane Board of Trustees Contact:
Stephen Owens
CEO Search Contact:
ZRG Partners
Gene Head