Board of Directors

Board Chair
Retired Child and Family Studies Department Chair at SCSU

“Our community needs a space dedicated to young children and families. A children’s museum fills that gap and serves as a place for children and families to practice needed 21st century skills.”

View Glen’s profile article.

Vice Chair

“Great River Children’s Museum creates a meeting place for everyone in the community to engage in fun and exciting activities. A diverse community sustains authentic education in arts and culture.  S.T.E.A.M. is the tool of success.”

Treasurer
Retired professor and administrator at St. Cloud Technical and Community College

“Early in my career I worked with Head Start, which at the time had the slogan,’Teaching parents through children.’ I believe this is a good goal for the Great River Children’s Museum.”

Secretary

“Our community needs more options to accelerate learning about arts and culture. A children’s museum will enhance local culture by encouraging people to engage with each other.”

View Monica’s profile article.

Board Member
Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist

“A children’s museum will provide exciting opportunities to support the social and emotional development of young children in our community, through exploration and play, with their parents or other important caregivers in their lives.”

Board Member
Parent Educator, Sauk Rapids-Rice Schools

“Investing in a children’s museum reflects the priorities of our community and boosts the quality of life for everyone.”

View Becky’s profile article.

Board Member
Retired CEO of the Stearns County History Museum and Senior VP for Corporate Services at CentraCare

Board Member
Parent Educator, Sauk Rapids-Rice Schools

“It’s been my dream to have a museum space in central Minnesota where children and adults are able to play together in a meaningful way that builds their relationship.”

Board Member
Psychologist, Miles Psychological Services

“This is an exciting time! The future of our community is being influenced by those just entering the world today. A local children’s museum presents an extraordinary opportunity to bring our community together, promoting learning through curiosity, and ultimately strengthening our humanity.”

Board Member
CPA at CliftonLarsonAllen

Board Member
Program Director, Central Minnesota Arts Board

“As an artist, teacher and parent, I value the essential role of play and exploration in the development of children but also in the health of a community. I am excited to see our commitment to those values made visible through the establishment of a children’s museum.”

Board Member
Pediatrician CentraCare Health System

“As a mother and pediatrician in this community, I am thrilled to be a part of an organization striving to create a safe place for our children to grow and learn. I look forward to an environment that allows our children to play without the constraints of gender, race, socioeconomic status or circumstance.”

Board Member
Dean of the School of Education
St. Cloud State University

“I’m new to the St. Cloud community and this project highlights the importance that is placed on the support and success of the children here. Our children deserve all of the resources and quality learning experiences that we can provide. It is great to see the community pull together to make this dream a reality. It further affirms our choice to come to St. Cloud!”

Board Member
Career Planner at Career Solutions

“I have little kids at home and really want something like this for them in Central Minnesota. I know our whole community will benefit from having a place for children to play and explore.”

Board Member
Attorney, Rinke Noonan

Retired Early Childhood Director, Sauk Rapids-Rice Schools

“As a parent and grandparent, I am excited to be part of the development of a children’s museum for our area. What a great addition to our community.”

View Karel’s profile article.

“It is important for kids to have unguided, free-form, creative play experiences. A children’s museum can provide an unstructured environment for exploration in today’s over-scheduled, excessively supervised world.”

Retired Parent Educator with District 742

“I love children, children’s museums and the St. Cloud area. Check out my collection of hundreds of images from other children’s museums to see what might be possible for our community.”

“As life-long resident of Saint Cloud, I am thrilled to support a welcoming environment in which the next generation can play, learn, and thrive.”

Author, It Only Takes One Yes!