Children’s Museum Houston CEO Rayanne Darensbourg elected to ASTC Board of Directors

ASTC is the global membership association for science centers and museums

HOUSTON (Sept. 8, 2025) – Children’s Museum Houston CEO Rayanne Darensbourg has been elected to a three-year term, beginning Sept. 8, 2025, on the Board of Directors for the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC).

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 am truly honored to join ASTC’s Board of Directors and to represent Children’s Museum Houston alongside so many inspiring leaders in the field,” said Darensbourg.  “Science centers and museums have a powerful role in sparking curiosity, breaking down barriers, and making science accessible for all. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues to advance ASTC’s mission and to ensure that more children, families, and communities everywhere can experience science’s wonder and possibility.”

Darensbourg will serve with other leaders from across the field 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 Museums 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, 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)

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“ASTC is grateful for the service and commitment of Rayanne Darensbourg,”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.”

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ABOUT ASTC

Founded in 1973, ASTC is a network of around 600science and technology centers and museums, and allied organizations, engaging more than 110 million people annually across North America and in more than 40countries. With its members and partners, ASTC works towards a vision of increased understanding of and engagement with science and technology among allpeople. www.astc.org

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ABOUT CHILDREN’S MUSEUM HOUSTON

Winner of 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, winner of Good Housekeeping’s “Best Family Travel Award” three years in a row (2023 to 2025),voted “Houston’s Best Museum” in Houston Chronicle’s Best of the Best Awards two years in a row (2023 and 2024), winner of Tripadvisor “2024 Travelers’ Choice Awards,” only American continent finalist in 2023 Hands On! Children in Museums International Award, listed among Forbes, LA Times and USA Today’s “Best Children’s Museums in the U.S.,” The Culture Trip’s “Top Museum and Landmark to Visit in Houston” and one of “Houston’s Must-See Museums” by Travel Channel, Children’s Museum Houston is a Playground for Your Mind™.  It is dedicated to transforming communities through innovative, child-centered learning that improves the trajectories of all children.  Founded in 1980 and housed in a whimsical building designed by internationally acclaimed architect Robert Venturi, Children’s Museum Houston offers a multitude of innovative exhibits and bilingual learning programs for kids ages birth to 12 years. Celebrating 45 years of play, the Museum is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit www.cmhouston.org or call (713) 522-1138. Can your mind come out to play?™