SEATTLE, July 21, 2020—Dr. Dana Riley Black, former Assistant Superintendent of Everett Public Schools in Washington state, is now The Museum of Flight’s new Vice President of Education. Riley Black brings to the Museum more than a decade of high-level successes in both formal and informal STEM education. “After a nationwide search, the obvious choice ended up being virtually in our back yard,” said the Museum’s President and CEO Matt Hayes. “In addition to Dana’s many achievements in formal education, her formation of strong partnerships between education institutions and the broader community has resulted in consistently positive outcomes for diverse students across the area.” Riley Black succeeds Reba Gilman, who is transitioning to consulting after six ground-breaking years as the Museum’s first VP of Education, a position that also oversees the Museum’s Boeing Academy for STEM Learning.

Dana Riley Black
Dr. Dana Riley Black is continually inspired by innovation in education and industry. Her focus is on contemporary educational research, practices and policies; workforce trends; and convening collaborative partnerships from across a diversity of community sectors including business, labor, and non-profit organizations.

Before accepting her Museum post, Riley Black was an Assistant Superintendent with Everett Public Schools in Washington state. There she launched six career pathways for students, as well as a region-wide student internship partnership with the City of Everett. Prior to joining Everett Public Schools, she was the director of the Logan Center for Education at the Institute for Systems Biology, a vast collaborative and cross-disciplinary nonprofit biomedical research organization based in Seattle.

Earlier in her career Dana worked for the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and University of Washington where she developed UW’s K-12 Institute for Mathematics and Science Education. Her initial job out of college was as a Science Education Associate at the Pacific Science Center.

Riley Black earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Washington, a Master’s in Education in Science Education, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Curriculum Studies from Miami University; and her dissertation work was conducted in partnership with the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History.

Reba Gilman
Riley Black succeeds Reba Gilman, who is transitioning to independent consulting and spending more time with family after six years as the Museum’s Vice President of Education and decades of outstanding achievements in education. Among her achievements are being selected as a Pathfinder honoree by the Museum of Flight and induction into the Pathfinder Hall of Fame, Administrator of the Year by the Washington Association of Career and Technical Administrators, Lifetime Achievement Award by the Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence, Propelling Education Award by the Red-Tailed Hawks Organization, and Administrator of the Year by the Washington PTSA. She led the development of Raisbeck Aviation High School, from concept initiation to locating the school on the campus of the Museum of Flight, serving as its first CEO/Principal from 2004-2014.

The Museum of Flight’s Boeing Academy for STEM Learning
All education programs at The Museum of Flight operate under the umbrella of
The Boeing Academy for STEM Learning, which was created in 2015 through a major investment by The Boeing Company. From pre-kindergarten to college prep and career readiness programs, the Academy provides unparalleled learning opportunities for students to explore and prepare for education and career pathways in flight, engineering, and space.

The Academy strives to accelerate opportunities for all youth, with particular focus on under-resourced and underrepresented populations, by connecting them to fulfilling, in-demand STEM careers. The Academy operates in partnership with schools, community-based organizations, government, business and industry to ensure that the next generation of workers are ready to lead and innovate.

The Museum is temporarily closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please check the Museum Website for updates regarding the re-opening (date TBD).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Ted Huetter/Senior Public Relations Manager
T: 206.768.7105 C: 206.455.5360 Email: thuetter@museumofflight.org

Museum Press Releases and Photos
Access all of The Museum of Flight press releases
Tour the Virtual Museum of Flight

###

About The Museum of Flight:

Founded in 1965, the independent, nonprofit Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, serving 600,000 visitors annually. The Museum's collection includes more than 160 historically significant airplanes and spacecraft, from the first fighter plane (1914) to today's 787 Dreamliner. Attractions at the 20-acre, 5-building Seattle campus include the original Boeing Company factory, the NASA Space Shuttle Trainer and the only exhibit of the rocket engines used to launch Apollo astronauts to the Moon. With a foundation of aviation history, the Museum is also a hub of news and dialogue with leaders in the emerging field of private spaceflight ventures. The Museum's aviation and space library and archives are the largest on the West Coast. More than 150,000 individuals are served annually by the Museum's onsite and outreach educational programs. The Museum of Flight is accredited by the American Association of Museums, and is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.

The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 on Boeing Field halfway between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2019 Museum admission for adults is $25. Youth 5 through 17 are $17, youth 4 and under are free. Seniors 65 and over $21. Groups of ten or more: $19 per adult, $12 per youth, $17 per senior. Thanks to Wells Fargo, on the first Thursday of every month, admission is free from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. And parking is always free. There is a full lunch menu café in the Museum and a limited menu café in the Aviation Pavilion, both operated by McCormick & Schmick's. For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit museumofflight.org.

COVID-19 Phased Operations Notice
The Museum is temporarily closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the phased re-opening of the Museum it will be operating under special guidelines for visitors and operate with reduced capacities, and some attractions will be closed or otherwise limited until further notice. Please check the Museum website for current guidelines and operations.