NEW BEDFORD, MASS.- The Board of Trustees of the New Bedford Whaling Museum has announced the appointment of Amanda D. McMullen to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer. NBWM conducted an international search to fill the position in partnership with Koya Leadership Partners, a retained executive search firm that specializes in leading searches for mission-driven clients.

McMullen will take the helm of a vibrant and healthy organization on May 7, 2018. As President and CEO, she will develop and articulate a vision for the Museum’s next chapter and will assume responsibility for communicating the Whaling Museum’s mission, vision and values to all constituencies. Reporting directly to the Board of Trustees, McMullen will develop and promote the strategies needed to build on the organization’s past successes, and will work to ensure the continued position of the Museum as the landmark cultural organization in the region and the preeminent whaling era resource in the country. McMullen brings more than 20 years of experience working with non-profits in senior management and fundraising positions to her new role.

Chair of the New Bedford Whaling Museum Board of Trustees Carol M. Taylor said, “We are delighted to welcome Amanda to the Whaling Museum and New Bedford. With a strong record of leadership and accomplishments, she is poised to contribute to the current momentum and growth within the region’s arts and culture community. The Board is confident that Ms. McMullen will enhance the Museum’s impact and advance its mission and strategic priorities.”

First Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Executive Search Committee Anthony Sapienza said, “Amanda McMullen is an accomplished leader whom the Whaling Museum is proud to have as its next President and CEO. In addition to having a strong leadership track record, she is innovative, creative and skilled when it comes to building partnerships, and identifying and developing new opportunities.”

"I am excited to join the team at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, and I look forward to working in partnership with the board, staff, and volunteers as we continue to play a critical role in understanding and celebrating the many vibrant stories of the greater New Bedford community,” said McMullen.

McMullen will be leaving her current position as Chief Operating Officer for the non-profit organization Meeting Street in Providence, Rhode Island, which also operates the Schwartz Center in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. As COO she directed programmatic, operational, marketing, and philanthropic activities for Meeting Street, which is a leader in education and child development and serves more than 5,000 children. Previously, McMullen served as Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Director, External Relations for Meeting Street. She directed corporate sponsorship activities for the Smithsonian Institution’s Traveling Exhibitions and was the Director of Leadership Giving for the United Way of Massachusetts Bay. McMullen also served as the Capital Campaign Coordinator for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.

McMullen holds a Bachelor of Art degree from Syracuse University and is a graduate of Leadership Rhode Island (Theta II Class). She is a recipient of both the 40 under 40 Award and the 2016 Chief Operating Officer of the Year/C-Suite Award from Providence Business News.