CLEVELAND, OH—August 20, 2026—We are pleased to announce the establishment of the Eric & Jane Nord Family Endowed Chair and Curator of Collections and Lifelong Learning at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, with Dr. Meghan Strong elected to serve as the inaugural endowed chair.
The endowed chair was made possible through a generous $5 million gift from the Eric & Jane Nord Family Fund, whose support will help advance the Museum’s mission through expanded opportunities for collections-based learning and public engagement with science.
“Our family is proud to support the Cleveland Museum of Natural History as it expands opportunities for lifelong learning,” said Gina Barbato, on behalf of the Nord family. “For generations, our family has believed in making education more accessible throughout our region, and we are pleased to continue that legacy by helping more people connect with science and discovery.”
“We are deeply grateful to the Nord Family Fund for making this new position possible,” said Meenakshi Sharma, the Museum’s Acting President & CEO. “This endowed chair is a lasting investment in the Museum’s leadership and long-term impact. Dr. Strong’s expertise, vision, and collaborative leadership make her exceptionally well suited to lead this work.”
This newly endowed position reflects the Museum’s commitment to activating its collections in new and meaningful ways, advancing lifelong learning, and connecting scientific research with the broader public. As a member of the Museum’s senior leadership team, Dr. Strong will provide visionary leadership for this work while continuing to oversee the Museum’s collections.
In her expanded role, Dr. Strong will collaborate with Museum scientists, curators, educators, and other colleagues to develop integrated, interdisciplinary programs for collegiate and adult audiences. These initiatives will draw upon the expertise of our scientists and the narratives presented throughout our exhibitions to explore connections among natural history, human health, environmental change, and conservation.
Dr. Strong will also help transform the Museum’s scientific research and collections into accessible, engaging learning experiences that strengthen public science literacy. As the Museum continues its multi-year collections digitization initiative, she will strategically leverage emerging resources—including digitized specimens, 3D assets, and online databases—to expand the Museum’s reach and create innovative, open-access learning opportunities for the global scientific community and the public.
Dr. Strong joined the Museum in September 2022 as Director of Collections and has played an essential role in the care, organization, and professionalization of our collections. Her accomplishments include leading the movement of millions of objects into our new facilities; managing the 2021 deinstallation of Sears Hall through her earlier contract work with the Museum; overseeing the deinstallation of the West Galleries and the subsequent installation of collections in the new galleries; and developing a long-term collections strategy.
Prior to joining the Museum, Dr. Strong gained extensive experience working with museum collections in Egypt, Sudan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge in 2018.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Strong on this well-deserved appointment and supporting her as she advances this important work on behalf of the Museum.
About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History illuminates the world around us and inspires visitors to engage with the natural forces that shape their lives. Since its founding in 1920, the Museum has pioneered scientific research to advance knowledge across diverse fields of study and used its outstanding collections, which encompass millions of artifacts and specimens, to deepen the public’s understanding of the dynamic connections between humans and nature. Through its Natural Areas Program, the Museum stewards more than 12,500 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio. A community gathering place, educational center, and research institution, the Museum is a vital resource that serves Cleveland and the nation. For more information, visit CMNH.org.
Media Contact
Samantha Guenther
External Communications Manager, Marketing & Communications
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Office: 216.231.4600 x3432
Mobile: 440.429.2902
sguenther@cmnh.org
