Museum names executive director

Museum names executive director

Maggie Lancaster. Courtesy Grand Rapids Children’s Museum

A long-time volunteer and board member is the new executive director of a museum downtown.

Grand Rapids Children’s Museum said last week that it has named Maggie Lancaster to the role leading its daily operations.

She has served as board president for two terms and been a museum volunteer for nearly 14 years.

“As we look forward to the second half of 2016, we are well into our three-year strategic plan and coming off one of our best-ever attendance years,” said Sandy Jager, board president, Grand Rapids Children’s Museum. “There is still much to do, but I am enthusiastic about our direction and the opportunities ahead with Maggie leading our daily operations.”

Lancaster said that she’s “humbled at the opportunity to lead this amazing organization, sustain the museum's values and secure the financial resources that will allow us to continue our mission of experiential learning through play.”

Lancaster’s background

Previously, Lancaster was the women’s basketball coach at Grand Rapids Community College and a teacher at Jenison High School.

Lancaster serves on the board of directors for Grand Rapids Public Museum, Egypt Valley Country Club and Thornapple Valley Baseball League, where she also is a coach.

She volunteers at Make A Wish Foundation, Family Futures and Kent County Court Appointed Special Advocate.

The Holt native holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Alma College.

A mother of two, Lancaster said the experience of watching her sons grow up in an open-play environment has encouraged her to advocate for others to do the same.