Stamford Museum & Nature Center Announces New Board President Douglas L. York, Ph.D.
Dr. York is the organization’s 31st President
Stamford, Conn. —The Stamford Museum & Nature Center has announced the election of Douglas L. York, Ph.D. as its 31st President effective June 6, 2024. Formerly the Board’s Vice-President, Dr. York succeeds Harry Day, who remains on the Board as President Emeritus, championing the Museum’s capital Campaign for Future Generations.
“I am honored to succeed Harry Day in the position of Board President,” said Dr. York. “I look forward to working even closer with CEO Melissa H. Mulrooney and our incredible Board and staff to build upon the SM&NC’s 88 years as an invaluable cultural and educational treasure.”
Dr. York, a 25-year resident of North Stamford, is presently the President & Chief Executive Officer of Union Community Health Center (UNION) in Bronx, New York. UNION is one of the largest Health Centers in New York State, with comprehensive medical, dental, and specialty services delivered from multiple clinical locations throughout the Bronx. Dr. York also serves as Assistant Professor and Assistant Site Dean at New York Medical College, where he actively teaches in both the Schools of Medicine and Public Health.
In recent years, Dr. York has served as the President of the North Stamford Association and currently serves as one of the Health Commissioners for the City of Stamford.
“I look forward to the important work Douglas and I will undertake together to bring our new Planetarium & Astronomy Center to life,” said Melissa H. Mulrooney, Chief Executive Officer of the SM&NC. “Our Board’s collective devotion to this beloved institution and this critical project will revitalize our physical science and astronomy pillar. This precious new building will architecturally complement our Knobloch Family Farmhouse and Heckscher Farm campus.”
Along with the election of York as Board President, Board officers Karen M. Kelly, Daniel L. Schwartz and Kathleen DeCruze were re-elected to their positions of Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, respectively, and Colin Campbell and Ellen Komar were elected to the Board as new Members.
A vital cultural and educational community resource since 1936, the Stamford Museum & Nature Center is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of art and popular culture, the natural and agricultural sciences, and history. We seek to inspire creativity, self-discovery, environmental stewardship, and an appreciation for continued learning across generations.
The organization is actively engaged in the second phase of its Campaign for Future Generations, with the construction of an 11,000 square foot Planetarium & Astronomy Center underway. The new Center is scheduled to open in the spring of 2025 as a signature science destination for STEAM education. The Planetarium & Astronomy Center and the Knobloch Family Farmhouse, which opened in 2018, are part of the SM&NC’s visionary Master Plan to build future capacity for the museum’s educational and public spaces.
Getting there:
Stamford Museum & Nature Center’s Bendel Mansion & Galleries are located at 39 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford, CT (3/4 mile North of Merritt Parkway Exit 35.) For more information call 203.977.6521 or visit stamfordmuseum.org.