Pittsburgh native Jimyse Brown will serve as the second executive director of the Moonshot Museum, Pittsburgh's space museum.
"Becoming the first African-American Executive Director of a space museum in Pennsylvania and the first globally focused on career readiness for the 21st century space industry is a milestone I hold close to my heart," Brown wrote on LinkedIn. "I stand on the shoulders of those who have come before me, breaking barriers in civil rights, education, community engagement and various professional sectors."
She will begin serving in July. She replaces Sam Moore, who oversaw the launch of the museum in 2022. Moore left the position shortly after the launch, leading to a nationwide search for a successor.
The museum is managed by the Astrobotic Foundation, a nonprofit that operates independently of Astrobotic Technology Inc. Despite the legal distinction, the two are closely connected. The museum is housed in a portion of Astrobotic's North Shore headquarters, Astrobotic Technology CEO John Thornton also serves as chair of the Moonshot Museum board and the company's failed Peregrine moon lander was displayed in the museum prior to its launch.
"Since the very first interview, Dr. Brown's enthusiasm shone brightly and truly embodies Moonshot's mission to inspire a diverse community to find their place in the future of space exploration," Thornton said in a prepared statement. "We believe she will be a true north star as we enhance our impact, expand access and usher in a new suite of educational programs for students of our region in collaboration with NASA."
Brown holds a doctorate in Community Engagement from Point Park University, a master's in Business Management from the University of Nottingham and a bachelor's in Sports and Event Management from Shepherd University. Her background in education was cited as a main reason for her hiring.
"I hope that others can look at this next phase in my life and the next phase of the Moonshot Museum as an example that no matter who you are, what you look like, or where you come from, there is a place for you in the space industry," Brown wrote. "Together, we will cultivate innovative and engaging experiences that deepen our connection with the community."
