Board of Directors

Andrew S. Ackerman was the Laurie M. Tisch Executive Director of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) for 29 years.  During that time, the Museum more than doubled its attendance and budget;  secured funding for influential exhibitions and programs; implemented city, state and nationwide outreach projects in early childhood health and literacy; and committed to welcome and give voice to diverse  communities. Major projects such as the nationally touring exhibition “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far,” exhibitions about American Jazz and the cultures of Japan and China and contemporary arts shows all engaged community members in leadership roles. To reach into the community, the Museum installed health and learning “hubs” in 30 homeless shelters and Head Start Centers citywide. Each hub features permanent exhibitory, graphics and initial programs to foster healthy living and early literacy.

In late 2017, Ackerman successfully led the Museum’s effort to acquire 361 Central Park West as its new home, securing pledges for almost $50 million. The new site will double the amount of exhibition space and will accommodate more than twice the number of visitors than the current museum location.

Prior to his tenure at CMOM, Ackerman was the first full time director of the Arts in Education Program for the New York State Council on the Arts, working in partnership with the State Education Department. He authored new guidelines and oversaw the funding of hundreds of projects each year. From 1977 to 1986, Ackerman was the Associate Director of The Jewish Museum and Director of Education, where he oversaw all educational initiatives, curated exhibitions and administered international projects.

Andrew S. Ackerman is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Herbert H. Lehman College and earned a M.A. from the University of Michigan. He has served on the staff of archaeological excavations in Israel, published a book and numerous articles, delivered scores of conference speeches and appeared on national and local television.

Arthur G. Affleck, III, M.Ed., JD, as Executive Director of the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), is the chief executive responsible for the strategy, development, and program execution for the organization.

Serving museum members in the United States and countries across the globe, the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) is an international nonprofit professional service organization representing and advocating for the children’s museum field. As one of the fastest growing cultural industries in the world, children’s museums have expanded exponentially in the past two decades. Currently, ACM serves over 480 total museums, businesses, educational organizations, and individuals in 50 states and 16 countries.

With training in law and education, over the years, Mr. Affleck has built a record of achievement in education administration, institutional advancement, and nonprofit governance, all while centering diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. Prior to the ACM appointment, he served as VP for Development and then EVP at the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). In addition to working to advance DEAI in the museum field, building a culture of philanthropy, Mr. Affleck was engaged with efforts to expand museums’ growing role in the P-12 education ecosystem. He is also an author and serves on several nonprofit boards, including: The International Council of Museums (ICOM-US), Bottom Line NY, Crystal Bridges American Art Museum-Windgate Advisory Board and Playful Learning Landscapes

He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Tuskegee University, a master’s degree in administration & supervision of higher education from Auburn University, a Juris Doctor degree from the American University-Washington College of Law, and a certificate from the Institute for Educational Management at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.

Richard A. Dimino was recently appointed by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey to serve on the Massachusetts Department of Transportation board and elected to the role of Finance Committee Chairperson on that board. Mr. Dimino currently serves as President Emeritus of A Better City after serving as the President and CEO from 1995 to April 2023. Under his leadership, A Better City achieved major organizational accomplishments and influenced a wide range of city and regional infrastructure projects and policies.

Prior to leading A Better City, Mr. Dimino served the City of Boston as Commissioner of Transportation from 1985-1993, where he oversaw a staff of 400, represented the City on MBTA advisory boards and committees. Mr. Dimino while in his position as commissioner served as the City of Boston’s Chairperson to the Central Artery projects Interagency Committee.

Mr. Dimino served as Vice President and Deputy Manager of Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation’s Transportation Business Sector. Mr. Dimino was also a lecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design, teaching there for 17 years with a primary focus on transportation planning, project management, and development. Mr. Dimino also served as a guest lecturer at Boston University. He is also an editorial
contributor to Boston’s Banker & Tradesman publication.

Mr. Dimino received his Master’s in Business Administration from Boston University in 1994 and is a 1978 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Northeastern University. In 1991, he completed a Loeb Fellowship in urban policy and transportation planning at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and has served on several boards, including the Boston Children’s Museum, Boston Society of Architects and Foundation, Freedom Trail Foundation, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D., is the Stanley and Debra Lefkowitz Faculty Fellow in the Department of Psychology at Temple University and a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. Her research examines the development of early language and literacy as well as the role of play in learning. With her long-term collaborator, Roberta Golinkoff, she is author of 14 books and hundreds of publications and a fellow of the Cognitive Science Society. She is the recipient of the AERA Outstanding Public Communication for Education Research Award, the American Psychological Association’s Bronfenbrenner Award, the American Psychological Association’s Award for Distinguished Service to Psychological Science, the Association for Psychological Science James McKeen Cattell Award, the Society for Research in Child Development, Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Child Development Award and the APA Distinguished Lecturer Award. She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society, is the Past President of the International Society for Infant Studies and served as the Associate Editor of Child Development. She is on the Steering Committee of the Latin American School for Education, Cognitive Neural Science as well as on the advisory board for Vroom, The Boston Children’s Museum, Disney Junior, The Free to Be Initiative and Jumpstart. Her book, Einstein never used Flashcards: How children really learn and why they need to play more and memorize less, (Rodale Books) won the prestigious Books for Better Life Award as the best psychology book in 2003.  Her recent book, Becoming Brilliant: What the science tells us about raising successful children, released in 2016 was on the NYTimes Best Seller List in Education and Parenting.  Kathy received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and is a frequent spokesperson for her field appearing in the NYTimes, npr and in international television outlets.

For over twenty-five years, Shelly has been both a practitioner and advisor to nonprofit and philanthropic organizations nationally, as well as nongovernmental organizations globally. She has deep experience in strategy and business planning, organizational and leadership development; and program planning and assessment, as well as being a trained facilitator.

From 2000-2013, Shelly was a Partner with TCC Group a national management consulting firm with offices in Philadelphia, New York and San Francisco. She headed the nonprofit strategy practice as well as being the Chief Financial Officer for the firm. Prior to joining TCC Group, Shelly spent six years as Deputy Executive Director of the International Clinical Epidemiology Network (INCLEN, Inc.), an international nonprofit organization working with medical schools in 24 countries to establish centers of research excellence. She came to INCLEN after eleven years in international development, primarily with the international relief and development organization, CARE.

Shelly has written a number of articles on strategic planning over the years including “The Death of Planning” for the Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal; “Funding for Impact: How to Design Strategic Grantmaking Programs,” and with Jared Raynor “When Things Fall Apart: Building Organizational Strength of Humanitarian Organizations” for TCC Group.

Shelly received her master’s degree in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Brown University.

Susan Magsamen is the founder and Executive Director of the International Arts + Mind Lab, a pioneering neuroaesthetics initiative from the Brain Science Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her body of work lies at the intersection of brain sciences and the arts—and how our unique response to aesthetic experiences can amplify human potential.

Magsamen is the author of the Impact Thinking model, an evidence-based research approach to accelerate how we use the arts to solve problems in health, well-being, and learning.  She is the co-editor of the American Psychological Association’s journal of Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts.  In addition to her role at IAM Lab, she also serves as Senior Advisor to the Science of Learning Institute at Johns Hopkins University.

Prior to founding IAM Lab, Magsamen worked in both the private and public sector, developing social impact programs and products addressing all stages of life—from early childhood to aging adulthood.  Magsamen created Curiosityville, an online personalized learning world, acquired by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2014 and Curiosity Kits, a hands-on multi-sensory company, acquired by Torstar in 1995.

An award-winning author for children and families, Magsamen has published seven books including The Classic Treasury of Childhood Wonder, The 10 Best of Everything Families, and Family Stories, a five-part interactive series that included Nighty Night, Tooth Fairy Times, My Two Homes, Family Night, and Making Spirits Bright.

Magsamen is a Fellow at the Royal Society of the Arts and a strategic advisor to several innovative organizations and initiatives, including the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture, the American Psychological Association, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Brain Futures, Learning Landscapes, and Creating Healthy Communities:  Arts + Public Health in America.

Robin R. Randall, FAIA, ALEP, LEED AP BD+C, principal and director of learning at Chicago-based Legat Architects, leads the firm’s national learning practice including preK-12, higher education, and library facilities. She ensures the design of learning environments supports diversity, promotes sustainability, and engages students in a culture of inquisitiveness. Randall’s 38 years of experience include designing and planning award-winning educational centers and leading budget-conscious master plans.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) elevated Randall to its College of Fellows for her notable contributions to the advancement of the profession of architecture. She is also one of only 11 Accredited Learning Environment Planners (ALEP) in Illinois. The credential, certified by the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE), substantiates her mastery of the seven Core Competencies of educational planning and validates her efforts to advance the educational design industry.

Randall has been a staunch advocate for incorporating research into the design of indoor and outdoor learning environments. She enlisted a Northwestern University neuroscience graduate student to conduct pre- and post-occupancy studies for the new Laraway School in Joliet, Illinois. The research revealed that the preK-8 school’s design, which incorporates grade-level neighborhoods and a large courtyard, not only enhanced school pride but also reduced bullying.

Randall earned a Fulbright scholarship and traveled to Denmark in 1990. Today, she continues to mentor the next generation of architects as a guest critic at Judson University, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Ball State University. Randall has drawn from her research and academic involvement to lead think tanks, competitions, workshops, and evidence-based design projects. Her portfolio includes dozens of articles and speaking engagements centered around topics such as playful learning, outdoor environments, and the integration of nature into educational settings. Randall holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design and Bachelor of Architecture from Ball State University.

Rosemarie T. Truglio is the Senior Vice President of Curriculum and Content at Sesame Workshop. Dr. Truglio is responsible for the development of the interdisciplinary curriculum on which Sesame Street is based and oversees content development across platforms (e.g., television, publishing, toys, home video, and theme park activities). She also oversees the curriculum development for all new show production, including Esme & Roy, which models learning through play.

Previously, Dr. Truglio managed an interdisciplinary global content team responsible for all global co-productions and content development across all media platforms, including digital media. From 1997 to 2013, she oversaw all educational research pertaining to program development, the results of which informed both the production and creative decisions for how to enhance the entertaining and educational components of linear and interactive content.  Before joining Sesame Workshop in 1997, she was an Assistant Professor of Communication and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Dr. Truglio has written numerous articles in child and developmental psychology journals and presented her work at national and international conferences. Her current book is Ready for School! A Parent’s Guide to Playful Learning for Children Ages 2 to 5 published by Running Press (2019). Additionally, she is co-editor of G is for Growing: Thirty Years of Research on Children and Sesame Street (2001) published by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Dr. Truglio has appeared on numerous network, cable, and radio programs including The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN’s Headline, and NPR’s Life Kit For Parents, Morning Edition, and All Things Considered, and she has been interviewed by reporters from a variety of national newspapers and news agencies.

Dr. Truglio currently serves on several advisory boards: NSF: Child Trends News Service; The Toy Association’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee; and Read Alliance Advisory Council. She previously served on the: National Advisory Child Health and Human Development Council (NICHD); Lego Foundation Research & Innovation Network; NSF REESE grant entitled Collaborative Research: Using Educational DVDs to Enhance Preschooler’s STEM Education; PBS KIDS Next Generation Media; Learning Through Play Children’s Museum of Manhattan: All the Way to K and Beyond!; the Children’s Digital Media Center Advisory Board; the National Association for Media Literacy Education; PlayAbility Scale Board/Parent’s Choice Foundation; and The Ultimate Block Party/Learn Now.

Dr. Truglio received a Ph.D. in Developmental and Child Psychology from the University of Kansas, and a B.A in Psychology from Douglass College, Rutgers University.  She received distinguished alumni awards from Douglass College (2005), University of Kansas (2013) and Rutgers University (2014), and the University of Kansas Women’s Hall of Fame (2015).

Jennifer S. Vey is an Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at the Greater Baltimore Committee, where she leads a team focused on implementing the organization’s 10- year plan for creating a stronger and more prosperous Baltimore region.  Vey has more than 25 years of experience in urban policy research and program management. Prior to joining GBC in September 2023, Vey was a senior fellow at Brookings and the director of the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Center for Transformative Placemaking; she currently holds an appointment as nonresident senior fellow. She is the author or co-author of dozens of publications examining how public and private investments can support the development of more vibrant, connected, and inclusive communities. She also co-edited Retooling for Growth: Building a 21st Century Economy in America’s Older Industrial Areas (2008) and Hyper-local: Place Governance in a Fragmented World (2022). Early in her career Vey was a community planning and development specialist at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  She earned a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning degree from the University of Virginia and holds a B.A. in Geography from Bucknell University. She lives with her family in Baltimore.

Dr. Valora Washington is an internationally recognized authority in early childhood education. She is known for conceptualizing, leading, and executing significant change initiatives impacting policy, programs, and practice in higher education, philanthropy, and national nonprofits as well as in local, state, and federal government programs.

During her decade tenure as CEO of the Council for Professional Recognition, Dr. Washington advanced and professionalized the field of early childhood education with her leadership of the largest credentialing program for early educators in the United States, the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™. Accomplishments included 25% increase in applications, 42% increases in renewals, and 107% decline in appeals. New initiatives include the establishment of 6 national conferences; The CDA Gold Standard Certification for training institutions; international programs in China, Egypt, UAE, and Panama; on-line application processes (which grew from 0 to almost 90%); new Essentials text and workbook; cyber sales; review-observe-reflect verification visit system; white paper series; high school CDA programs; renewal amnesty programs; outreach and assessments in up to 23 languages; and alumni group.

Dr. Washington is considered a pioneer in early education, having been named as a Legacy Leader by the Center for Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO), for having shaped the early childhood education field, having a unique perspective on the history and context of today’s policy initiatives, and for developing strategies to address the issues that impact child outcomes.

Certified as an Association Executive and as a Credentialing Specialist, Dr. Washington co-founded Voices for Michigan’s Children, the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative, and the CAYL Institute (a leadership development program for practitioners).

She formerly served as Vice President at Antioch College and the Kellogg Foundation and as a tenured faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has held leadership roles with the Massachusetts Governor’s School Readiness Commission; Voices for America’s Children; NAEYC; Black Caucus of the Society for Research in Child Development; National Head Start Association Commission on 2010; Boston Children’s Museum; and Wheelock College.

She was named one of “25 Most Influential Working Mothers” by Working Mother magazine, chosen as one of “Ten Outstanding Young Women of America” from among 62,000 nominations, and in 2018, named by Exchange magazine as Doyens (the most respected or prominent person in a field). Dr. Washington has authored over 50 publications including Children of 2010 and Children of 2020. She has also co-authored Ready or Not: Early Care and Education’s Leadership Choices – 12 Years Later; The New Early Childhood Professional; and Guiding Principles for the New Early Childhood Professional.

In addition to a Ph.D. in Child Development/Education from Indiana University at Bloomington, Dr. Washington holds four honorary degrees and professional recognition from numerous organizations including the Barr Fellowship; Leadership Greater Washington; Boston AEYC; NAEYC Black Caucus;

Cambridge Resource and Referral; Center for Adoption Research; National Association of Black Social Workers; United Way of Massachusetts Bay; and numerous others.

Dr. Sara Watson is the founder of Watson Strategies LLC, which specializes in designing effective advocacy campaigns, with a focus on the role of philanthropy and business champions for policy change.  She collaborated on the Council on Foundation’s Policy and Advocacy Training Center and wrote the Council publication, Public Policy and Advocacy for Grantmakers.  Other clients have included StriveTogether, the Bainum Family Foundation, DC Action, The Basics, and the Children’s Funding Project. 

She was the Senior Director, Policy at the Bainum Family Foundation, where she led a portfolio of grants to support early childhood advocacy in the District of Columbia.  She is the founder and former Global Director of ReadyNation, an international business membership organization supporting executives to be champions for children’s policies.  She created the U.S. version of ReadyNation, as well as ReadyNation International, and worked with local leaders to create similar organizations in Australia, Romania, Brazil and Uganda.  She was also Senior Officer at The Pew Charitable Trusts, where she led a ground-breaking, $100 million national advocacy campaign for prekindergarten.  The campaign led to a doubling of public funding for pre-kindergarten.   She was also Executive Vice President of America’s Promise. 

She has published several reports with the Alliance for Justice on the role of philanthropy in supporting advocacy, as well as Creating Change Through Policy Advocacy: 10 Ways Foundations Can Engage, published by the Bainum Family  Foundation.  She holds M.P.P. and Ph.D. degrees from the Harvard Kennedy School, a B.A. from Carleton College and an ESOL certification from Cambridge University. In her free time, she chairs the Mission Committee at her church; manages volunteers for her local fire department, where she was a Master EMT for 10 years; and plays with her 2 rescue dogs.

Michael Yogman is co-board chair of Playful Learning Landscapes and an advisor to the
American Repertory Theater at Harvard, the Boston Landmarks Orchestra, and the leadership
council of the Center on Universal Education at the Brookings Institute. Recently retired from
pediatric practice, he is an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.
Previously, Yogman was associate chief of the division of child development at Boston
Children’s Hospital. He has edited books, including In Support of Families and Affective
Development in Infancy, and authored numerous articles and chapters. Research interests
include the father-child relationship, nutrition and behavior, postpartum depression,
prematurity, the power of play, buffering toxic stress, and behavioral health integration in
primary care. Yogman serves on boards including Franciscan Children’s Hospital, Boston Basics,
is board chair of Boston Children’s Museum, chair of the museum’s advisory board, and state
and national task forces on child mental health. Yogman has received many awards for his
research and advocacy on child development and behavior, including the outstanding
Children’s Museum award at the White House in 2013. In a report for the Academy of
Pediatrics he advocated for pediatricians to write a Rx for Play at all visits. In June of 2024 he
spoke at the General Assembly panel at the United Nations to celebrate the inaugural
International Day of Play. Dr Yogman received his undergraduate degree from Williams College,
his medical degree at Yale University and a M Sc degree from the Harvard School of Public
Health.