Atiba T. Edwards has been named the Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s new CEO and president. The St. Vincent native, who was the museum’s Chief Operating Officer before taking on the post, is the institution’s 12th president and its first Black man in its nearly 125-year existence.
“I am deeply honored and excited to assume the role of President and CEO at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. This institution holds a special place in the hearts of families and children in Brooklyn and beyond. BCM is a place I grew up coming to with my family during my childhood years. I am committed to continuing the museum’s legacy of providing a dynamic and enriching educational experience for all, and I look forward to working with our dedicated staff, board, and community partners to ensure the museum’s continued success,” Edwards expressed, according to Caribbean Today.
Edwards began his professional career at JPMorgan’s Investment Bank as a fixed-income research analyst with an emphasis on the auto industry. He stayed in the finance industry, sharing his expertise with Nomura Securities on high-grade and high-yield fixed-income research divisions covering a wide range of industries, including tobacco, aerospace, automotive, defense, and healthcare.
Subsequently, the candidate was appointed director of operations at Brooklyn East Collegiate, a middle school under Uncommon Schools.Edwards is also a co-founder of FOKUS, a nonprofit whose goal is to promote community development and connection via the arts.
Born and raised in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Edwards hopes to use his new role to ensure that everyone feels welcome at the school and to unite the community.
He led an array of new offerings at the museum, including the highly acclaimed ArtRink exhibition, the launch of a mini-golf course, and the inauguration of a state-of-the-art auditorium. To quote the museum, he “served with outstanding leadership, overseeing various critical functions of the museum, including adeptly managing the budget, implementing systems to increase staff efficiency, overseeing an incredibly successful rebranding effort.”
Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Amanda Sue Nichols, said, “We could not be more thrilled to welcome Atiba into this new role as President and CEO. Atiba has been a central player in the Museum’s success over the last four years and was instrumental in guiding the museum through the COVID-19 pandemic.”
After former CEO and president Stephanie Hill Wilchfort departed the museum in mid-August, Edwards took over as acting CEO and president.
Nichols stated that everyone is certain that Edwards is the best candidate to lead the Brooklyn Children’s Museum going forward because of his exceptional leadership during his tenure as interim CEO and his demonstrated commitment to the mission of the museum and the communities it serves.
The largest family-focused cultural institution in New York City is the Brooklyn Children’s Museum (BCM), which opened its doors as the first children’s museum in history in 1899. Through exhibitions and programs focused on visual arts, music and performance, natural science, and other cultures, BCM provides services to 300,000 children and caregivers annually.