We are pleased to announce the appointment of Kimberly Vagner as the museum’s new Executive Director. With a strong knowledge of gems and minerals, and a background in museum operations and management, Kim is charged with creating a plan for the museum that includes updating content and galleries, expanding outreach to the Hillsboro community, and aligning with STEM education initiatives.
Kim comes to us from the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, Texas, where she served as the Director of the Gems and Minerals Center of Excellence. Prior to this role, she also worked for the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), and credits her start in the profession with volunteering in the mineral sciences department of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. She has a Masters Degree in Decorative Arts & Design from Parsons School of Design, and has a Graduate Gemologist diploma from GIA. Having grown up in Bellevue, Washington she is thrilled to back home in the Pacific Northwest. Welcome Kim!