Leadership

Executive Management

Judy Gradwohl
President and Chief Executive Officer

Eowyn Bates
Vice President of Philanthropy and Engagement

Johno Niles
Vice President of Science and Conservation

The San Diego Natural History Museum traces its roots to an enthusiastic group of amateur naturalists, who formed the San Diego Society of Natural History in 1874. Learn more.

Board of Directors

Chair
Andrew Garman
Managing Partner, New Venture Partners LLC

Vice Chair
Allison Alberts, Ph.D.
Chief Conservation and Research Officer, San Diego Zoo Global (Retired)

Secretary
Peter MacCracken
Principal, Strategic Communications

Treasurer
Jeff Scott, Ed.D.
Adjunct Faculty Member, School of Global Policy and Strategy, UCSD

Directors

Sarah Aghassi
Interim Chief Administrative Officer, County of San Diego (Retired)

Steve Bell
Northern Trust Bank (Retired)

Anita Busquets
President, Biotechnology Mgmt. Consultants

Peter Cowhey
Dean Emeritus and Qualcomm Chair Emeritus, School of Global Policy and Strategy, UCSD

Elaine Dodge, JD CFRE
Member – Board of Directors, Rancho Santa Fe Foundation

Exequiel Ezcurra, Ph.D.
UC Mexus

Tom Fleming
Senior Information Technology Executive, Semi-Retired and Consulting

Edmond Lay
Partner, Cooley LLP

Chrysa Mineo
Board Member, Cidara Therapeutics

Amber Pairis Ph.D.
Director, Climate Science Alliance

Chikako Tyler
CFO, California Bank and Trust

Victor Vilaplana
CFO, Verse.ai

Trustees Emeriti

Pamela M. Bruder
Dale Clark
Mary H. Clark*
James Clements*
Joan Parker*
Norman C. Roberts., DVM*
Harley Sefton
Thomas W. Sefton*
Christy Walton
Carol Wilson

Honorary Trustees

Charmaine* and Maurice* Kaplan
Philip M. Klauber*
Donna K. Sefton*
Richard Schwenkmeyer*
Nita and Henk van der Werff
Dennis Wilson

*deceased

Collaborations and Partnerships

The San Diego Natural History Museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums , which certifies that this museum continues to demonstrate a professional level of operation in accordance with the standards of excellence prescribed by the AAM.

Our organization is a member of the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership, a collaboration of 26 arts, science and culture institutions in Balboa Park. By working together we produce major outcomes that no single organization could achieve alone. Benefits of our Partnership include:

Collective cost savings of $800,000 annually;
Improved organizational performance and creation of new resources (knowledge, innovation, and networks)
New financial resources: since 2008 the Partnership has brought $4.2 million in new revenue to Balboa Park;
Improved public accessibility and safety through capital improvements and ADA upgrades
Reduction of Balboa Park's carbon footprint by 5.4 million kWhs and 91,000 therms annually, the equivalent of 110 homes; and
Professional development for more than four thousand staff and volunteers to improve professional practice and visitor experience.

To learn more about the many ways our collaboration makes the Park a better place to visit, learn, and have fun, please visit the Partnership's website at www.bpcp.org.

The San Diego Natural History Museum has been awarded Prestigious LEED® for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Green Building Certification.