Melissa Higgins to Lead Boston Children's Museum

Higgins officially assumes the role on August 17, bringing eight years of institutional experience to the top post. Since joining the museum in 2018, she has overseen the development of STEAM and Art Labs, expanded online learning resources, and managed the CreatedBy Festival. Her background includes prior roles at WGBH and the Museum of Science’s Engineering is Elementary program, credentials the board cited as essential for maintaining the museum's educational mission.

Outgoing leader Carole Charnow will transition to the title of President Emerita. Board Chair David Healy praised the continuity provided by the appointment, noting that Higgins’s familiarity with both the museum’s internal culture and the national children’s museum network positions her to build upon the foundation established during Charnow’s long tenure. Higgins, who holds an M.A. in Museum Studies from Harvard, enters the role with a stated focus on developing new, playful experiences designed to meet the evolving needs of families in Greater Boston.