CONTACT: Casey Blake
480-390-1258
Casey.Blake@mesaartscenter.com
DR. TOM WILSON RETIRES AFTER 17 YEARS LEADING ARIZONA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Mesa, AZ Arizona Museum of Natural History Director Dr. Tom Wilson retires May 29 after 17 years of strong leadership and museum growth. During Dr. Wilsons tenure the museum has undergone a significant evolution resulting in enhanced exhibits, visiting scholars, a renaming that shifted the focus from southwestern history and culture to natural history and the addition of a now iconic dinosaur sculpture to the buildingfaade. Under Dr. Wilsons direction, Arizona Museum of Natural History has become the premiere natural history museum in the State.
Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Wilson was responsible for refocusing the mission of the museum in 2007 to natural history and renaming the institution. The museum houses substantial collections of critical importance to the Southwest, and activepaleontological and archaeological research is ongoing. Dr. Wilson was instrumental in attracting key donors and built an expert team of staff to generate unique gallery exhibits and vibrant education programs.
In 2013, Mesa Grande Cultural Park was opened, preserving and opening to the public the archaeological site of a Hohokam settlement. This project took years of planning, and came to fruition under Tom Wilsons stewardship, and his leadership of a fundraising campaign to build a visitor center and a path enabling visitors to view archeological excavations.
One of Dr. Wilsons favorite achievements was the creation and installation of a 45-foot-long dinosaur sculpture, depictingAcrocanthosaurus, a southwestern meat eater, bursting through the facade of the building. This unique sculpture has become an iconic image for downtown Mesa.
In addition to his role at the museum, Dr. Wilson served as Chair of the Governors Archaeology Advisory Commission, President of Arizona Citizens for the Arts, and as a board member of the Mesa Preservation Foundation. He previously served as Chair of Arizona Humanities, President of the Museum Association of Arizona, Vice Chair of the Mesa Historical Museum and President of the Council for Museum Anthropology.
In addition to his cultural and academic pursuits, Dr. Wilson is an endurance athlete completing 60 triathlons and finishing first in his division in several races.
Tom has done an amazing job as director, leading the efforts to refocus the museum and rename it. His professionalism and passion, and his many accomplishments, have earned him and the museum enormous respect from his colleagues not only here, but nationally and globally, Mesa City Manager Chris Brady said.
Thanks to Toms efforts, the Arizona Museum of Natural History is truly a destination for thousands of families. From his leadership to create the Mesa Grande Cultural Park to attracting major collections and first class exhibits to the infamous dinosaur faade, he has left a tremendous impact on one of Mesas true gems, Mesa Mayor John Giles said.
Alison Stoltman, Curator of Education, will serve as Acting Director until a search for a new director is completed. Alison, a paleoanthropologist, has worked at the Arizona Museum of Natural History for 10 years and has held prior positions in both the archaeological and paleontological fields.
Arizona Museum of Natural History is nestled in the heart of downtown Mesa. A must see for dinosaur lovers, the main attraction is Dinosaur Mountain, with animatronic dinosaurs, a 3-story indoor waterfall and flash flood that happens every 20 minutes. Dino Hall showcases articulated dinosaur and flying pterosaur skeletons including a large fossil dinosaur bone that you can touch.
If dinosaurs are not your interest however, there is so much more. The museum houses archaeological collections both local and from all over the Americas. You can walk through an ancient Hohokam village, or discover cultures further afield like the Maya or Aztec civilizations.
The museum is more than an entertaining venue. It is a research institution for archaeology and paleontology with on-going field studies and innovative educational partnerships with universities making it a rich resource for the community.
For more information about the museum please visitwww.azmnh.org.