Heureka’s CEO Mikko Myllykoski elected to ASTC Board of Directors

ASTC is the nonprofit membership society representing organizations committed to public engagement with science, including a core membership of nearly 600 science and technology centers and museums and allied organizations in more than three dozen countries around the world. ASTC and its members share a vision of increased understanding of and engagement with science and technology among all people.

The ASTC Board provides overall leadership to ASTC, the world’s largest association representing science engagement organizations and their staff.

“I’m honored to have been elected to the ASTC Board of Directors. Since I also serve as Vice President of the European Science Centres Network (Ecsite), I believe I can act as a mediator between the two major associations in the global science center field,” said Mikko Myllykoski.

Mikko Myllykoski will serve with other leaders elected to the Board this year as officers or directors:

Officers

• Erin Graham, MBA, JD, was elected as Chair of the ASTC Board of Directors. She is President and CEO of Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) in Portland, Oregon.
• Sam Dean, MEd, is the new Chair-Elect of the ASTC Board. He is Chief Executive Officer of Scott Family Amazeum in Bentonville, AR.
• Christian Greer, EdD, is the new Secretary. He is President and CEO of Michigan Science Center in Detroit, Michigan.
• Adalene “Nene” Spivy, MBA, has been reelected as Treasurer. She is Executive Director of Children’s Science Center and Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation in Fairfax, Virginia.
• Tim Ritchie, MPA, JD, is now Immediate Past Chair. He is the Gwill York President of Museum of Science in Boston, Massachusetts.
  
  

Directors

• Paul Backhouse, Senior Director, Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Environmental Protection Office Clewiston, Florida (elected to a first term)
• Lori Bettison-Varga, President and Director, Natural History Musuems of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California (reelected to a second term)
• Rayanne Darensbourg, CEO, Children’s Museum Houston and Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center Houston, Texas (elected to a first term)
• Sean Decatur, President, American Museum of Natural History New York, New York (elected to a first term)
• Benjamin Dickow, President & Executive Director, Columbia Memorial Space Center Downey, California (elected to a first term)
• Matt Hayes, President & CEO, The Museum of Flight Seattle, Washington (elected to a first term)
• Mikko Myllykoski, CEO, Heureka, the Finnish Science Centre Vantaa, Finland (elected to a first term)
• Elizabeth Pierce, President & CEO, Cincinnati Museum Center Cincinnati, Ohio (elected to a first term)
• Sara Schapiro, Executive Director, Alliance for Learning Innovation, Washington, D.C. (reelected to a second term)

They join other continuing members of the Board of Directors, whose names and affiliations are listed in the appendix.

“ASTC is grateful for the service and commitment of Mikko Myllykoski,” said Christofer Nelson, ASTC’s President and CEO. “Members of the Board of Directors – each distinguished leaders – bring tremendous insight and important perspectives on our field as we work together to increase understanding of an engagement with science and technology among all people.”

About ASTC

Founded in 1973, ASTC is a network of around 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