Following an 18-month international search. the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH) has announced that Evalyn Gates, has been named executive director and chief executive officer of the institution effective May 17, 2010.
This follows an 18-month international search chaired by of the Museum. The Boston firm, Isaacson Miller, provided professional counsel to the search committee.
“Evalyn Gates is the ideal professional to lead The Cleveland Museum of Natural History at this time,” said A. Chace Anderson, president of the museum's board of trustees. “She is a distinguished scientist who understands the importance of generating broad appeal for science at a time when CMNH is looking to reinvent how we present natural history. She also has the proven leadership ability to bring scientists, educators and donors together to make this goal a reality as we begin a major expansion and renovation plan. In addition, she brings strong Cleveland ties that will benefit the Museum, University Circle and the community.”
Gates is currently the assistant director of the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics (KICP) at the University of Chicago, an internationally renowned research center for the study of the structure, composition and evolution of the Universe from the earliest moments of cosmic history to the present. KICP scientists are also engaged in a variety of dynamic education and outreach programs that extend its science into classrooms in Chicago and museums around the world. As part of the leadership team at KICP, Gates has been responsible for the overall management of the center and its key programs, including the prestigious KICP Postdoctoral Research Fellowships. She is also a member of the research faculty in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Chicago, with an active program of research in cosmology and particle astrophysics.
Prior to joining KICP, Gates spent seven years in a senior management role at the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum. She joined the Adler as the director of astronomy in 1996 at the start of a $40 million dollar renovation and expansion of the museum and was responsible for the creation of new exhibits and shows while also directing the development of three major galleries. In 2001, Gates was named Adler’s vice president for science and education, overseeing the efforts of the Astronomy, History of Astronomy, Education, Show Production and IT Departments.
During her tenure at the Adler, Gates also established one of the first astronomy and astrophysics research groups in a museum setting. The Adler Astronomy Department now includes nine Ph.D. research scientists, several with joint appointments at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. These research positions have strengthened the ties between the institutions and facilitated innovative education and outreach programs that bring current research to students and the general public.
“CMNH is one of the finest natural history museums in the country,” said Gates. “And the opportunity to lead such an outstanding institution as it begins a major transformation is incredibly exciting. Museums have a critical role to play in the effort to improve science education in this country and CMNH, with its expansive definition of natural history and strong foundation of research and collections, is poised to break new ground in extending the role of museums at every level of science education.”
Gates’ book, Einstein’s Telescope: The Hunt for Dark Matter and Dark Energy in the Universe was published in 2009 and gives non-scientists a comprehensive look at recent developments that have overturned the understanding of the fundamental nature of the Universe and describes the radical new technique that may lead the way to the next great revolution in science.
She received her PhD in theoretical particle physics from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in 1990, and was a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University before joining the University of Chicago in 1992. She earned a BS in physics from The College of William and Mary and a BS in biomedical engineering from CWRU.
“From the university’s perspective, Evalyn Gates is an outstanding choice to lead The Cleveland Museum of Natural History,” commented Cyrus Taylor, dean of the College of Arts and Science at CWRU and the Adelbert A. Michelson Professor in Physics and Gates’ advisor during her graduate studies at CWRU. “She is a world-class scientist who happens to be a Case Western Reserve alumna. Her leadership at the Museum presents us with an opportunity to deepen the collaborations between the university and the Museum. She is the ideal person to help the Museum explain science to the general public and why it matters.”
Gates was born in Philadelphia and raised in Batavia, New York. Her husband Eric Pelander, a management consultant, is originally from South Euclid, Ohio. They have three grown children and currently reside in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, IL.
