The Chattanooga History Center announces changes in its executive staff, following the resignation of Dr. Daryl Black.
Marlene Payne has been promoted to the newly created position of Museum director. Ms. Payne, with the Center for eight years, most recently has been its deputy director. Other staff members are remaining in their positions: Caroline Sunderland as senior educator and Marie Bourassa Cullis as curator of collections.
In addition, the Center has engaged Andrew Kean on a part-time basis as financial consultant to help complete its capital campaign and develop a strategic business plan for opening and transition. It is anticipated that the Center will hire a chief executive officer in the near future.
Dr. Black, who has served as executive director of the Center since April 2009, resigned his position in order to become the new executive director of the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg, PA. To ensure an orderly transition, the Center will retain Dr. Black as a consultant for a period of time as the final design and installation phase are completed.
“We want to thank Daryl for his passion, leadership, and overall academic contributions to the Chattanooga History Center, and we wish him well in his new position at the Seminary Ridge Museum,” said Jo Coke, board president for the Chattanooga History Center. “We are extremely fortunate to have Ms. Payne and Mr. Kean working in collaboration to turn our vision for a world-class, state of the art history museum into a reality for this community.”
Sarah Morgan, president of the Benwood Foundation, also expressed her hope that the Chattanooga History Center will be the next landmark attraction for downtown Chattanooga.
“Our City has an amazing story, and visitors and residents alike should have a better understanding of how this place was reborn, reimagined, and revitalized,” said Ms. Morgan.
For more information on the Chattanooga History Center or to make a donation to support the capital campaign, visit
www.chattanoogahistory.org.