Nashville, Tennessee, June 5, 2019 – Adventure Science Center is in the process of a multi-year revitalization plan that will result in the complete transformation of Nashville’s iconic and lifelong learning hub. As part of that transformation, Loretta Cooper will be joining the senior leadership team as Vice President of Experience and Collaboration. In this new role, she will provide strategic direction of all exhibits, the Innovation Incubator maker space, Sudekum Planetarium, adult public programs, and content partnerships.
After nearly a decade as Senior Development Officer, Deputy Director for Advancement at Washington, D.C.’s Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Cooper is relocating to Nashville to develop and oversee Adventure Science Center’s long-range plans that will set a new standard for experiences at Nashville’s distinguished museum. In addition, Cooper will build a suite of exhibits and programs that will engage audiences of all ages and will engage visitors from across the nation.
Cooper first joined the Smithsonian in 2001, serving first as Director of Development at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and then at the Center for Folk Life and Cultural Heritage. She has also held senior positions in leading organizations including the National Park Foundation, Scottsdale Cultural Council, Nevada Museum of Art, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Among her many accomplishments at National Museum of Natural History, she led fundraising for both the Human Genome and Outbreak exhibitions, the Global Genome Initiative and helped establish and build the Smithsonian Gemstones Collectors, a highly successful affinity group supporting acquisitions, programming, and research.
Known for her innovative spirit, strategic thinking and her deep commitment to the power of museums, Cooper will join the Adventure Science Center team on June 17, 2019.
# # #
About Adventure Science Center
For nearly 75 years, Adventure Science Center has been bringing science to life for students, teachers, and families in Middle Tennessee and across the U.S. The organization offers engaging learning experiences and science fun through hands-on, interactive exhibits, innovative programs and full-dome productions in state-of-the-art Sudekum Planetarium. Adventure Science Center strives to open every mind to the wonders of science and technology, fostering a better understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Contact: Courtney Cotton, Director of Marketing and Communications
Phone: (615) 401-5059 / (615) 476-1062
Email: ccotton@adventuresci.org