
Meet the senior leadership team, Trustees, and Academy Fellows whose vision and direction make the Academy's mission possible.
Management Team

Scott D. Sampson, PhD
Executive Director and William R. and Gretchen B. Kimball Chair
Dr. Sampson leads the institution’s world-class museum as well as its programs of scientific research, sustainability, and education. A renowned paleontologist, passionate science communicator, and seasoned museum leader, Sampson joined the Academy in September 2019.

Elizabeth Babcock, PhD
Chief Public Engagement Officer and Roberts-Wilson Dean of Education
Responsible for creating and implementing public engagement, outreach, and education programs, Dr. Babcock seeks to ignite a lifelong curiosity about—and love for—the natural world in all who come in contact with the Academy.

Shannon Bennett, PhD
Chief of Science and Harry W. and Diana V. Hind Dean of Science and Research Collections
Dr. Bennett is responsible for the Academy’s programs of scientific research and exploration, as well as overseeing the Academy’s priceless collection of nearly 46 million scientific specimens from around the world.

Raul del Barco
Chief Human Resources Officer
del Barco leads the Academy’s people practices with a focus on diversity and inclusion, overseeing human resources and volunteer services for the Bay Area’s largest cultural attraction.

Melissa Felder
Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer
Felder leads the museum's earned revenue and marketing strategy, strengthening understanding of all that the Academy has to offer its diverse audiences through strategic marketing, branding, communications, sales, membership, and exhibits.

Ike Kwon
Chief Operating Officer and Head of Government Affairs
Kwon is responsible for infrastructure, guest and building operations, and technology for the Academy. He also oversees the institution’s relationships with local government and civic and community groups.

Mike McGee
Chief Financial Officer
In his role as Chief Financial Officer, McGee oversees strategic financial planning for the Academy, ensuring that the institution’s resources are managed wisely and aligned with its long-term strategic plan and mission.

Mary Nemerov
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Nemerov works closely with the Board of Trustees and a team of development professionals to raise philanthropic gifts that support the Academy's scientific research, environmental literacy programs, conservation initiatives, and public museum.

A governing group of approximately 450 distinguished scientists, Academy Fellows have made notable contributions to one or more of the natural sciences and help further the reach of our research and education initiatives through individual and collaborative efforts with Academy researchers. Nominated by their colleagues and selected by the Board of Trustees, Academy Fellows remain members of the Fellowship for life.
Board of Trustees
The strategic guidance and oversight provided by Academy Trustees, an exceptional group of leaders from the Bay Area and beyond, help shape the institution’s vision and strategic direction.
John Adams
Matthew Barger, Vice Chair
Elizabeth Blackburn, PhD*
Dan Carroll
Huifen Chan
Felicia Chiu
Troy Daniels*
William F. Duhamel
Marc Ebbin
Peter Fenton
Christopher Field, PhD*
Jack Forestell
Laura E. Furstenthal, PhD
Adam Gazzaley, MD, PhD*
Nick Giovanni
Kevin Hartz
Naureen Hassan
Tessa M. Hill, PhD,
Vice President*
Dan Janney
Jay Kahn
David M. Kennedy, PhD
Salman Khan
Jeffrey Koseff, PhD*
Zachary Lara
Rebecca Lin
Marie O'Gara Lipman
Charles Marshall, PhD,
President*
Lawrence Miao
Michael Millman
Derek S. Mitchell, PhD
Harold A. Mooney, PhD*
Joe O'Donnell
Elizabeth R. Patterson, Chair
Kirsten Rhodes
Marta Salas-Porras
Adam Savage
Andrew J. Schwab
Nicholas Simon
Gary T. Steele
Virginia Goss Tusher, PhD,
Secretary
Bill Younger
Ron Zeff
*Science Trustee
Trustees Emeriti
Bruce Alberts, PhD
James N. Alexander
Alissa J. Arp, PhD
John C. Atwater, Chair Emeritus
Peter Avenali**
Laurence M. Baer
Foster Bam
Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr.
Peter B. Bedford
W. Richard Bingham, Chair
Emeritus**
Richard C. Blum
Bruce Bolt, PhD, President
Emeritus**
Roberta Borgonovo
Teresa Briggs
Mark Buell
Shawn Byers
Lyman H. Casey
Peter Y. Chung
William A. Clemens, PhD,
President Emeritus**
Lewis W. Coleman
Joyce Mobley Corrigan
Penny Coulter
Paul L. Davies, Jr., Chair
Emeritus**
Susan Desmond-Hellmann, MD
Lynn G. Dunne**
Richard P. Emerson
John H.N. Fisher
Randi Fisher
Peter M. Folger
Mark Gaumond
Edward A. Gilhuly
Rosemary G. Gillespie, PhD
Diane B. Greene
John Hafernik, PhD, President
Emeritus
Harry R. Hagey
William R. Hearst III
Glenn W. Holsclaw
David A. Hoyt
William J. Hume, Chair Emeritus
Nelson Ishiyama
Oliver Jenkyn
Ann L. Johnson, MD
James C. Kelley, PhD, President
Emeritus
William R. Kimball, Chair
Emeritus**
Patrick V. Kirch, PhD
Thomas B. Klein
Steve Krognes
Martha W. Kropf
Roger Kuo
W. M. Laetsch, PhD
John W. Larson
John W. Larson**
Laura F.K. Lazarus
Sandra Linder
Sharon Long, PhD
Laura Davies Mateo
Lucia Matzger
Steve McCormick
Janet McKinley
Linda Meier
Hamid R. Moghadam
George G. Montgomery, Jr.**
Gladys Moore**
Craig Moritz, PhD
Mervin G. Morris
David Morrison, PhD
Michael J. Murray
Susan Oberndorf
Emilie Munger Ogden
Arthur C. Patterson
William J. Patterson, Chair
Emeritus**
John S. Pearse, PhD, President
Emeritus**
Carrie W. Penner
Gary Pinkus
Carmen A. Policy
William S. Price III
Christine H. Russell
Evert I. Schlinger, PhD**
Wendy Schmidt
Fidela Z. Schneider
Russell Schweickart
Judy Siebel
Kurt Simon
Leo Soong
Clare H. Springs
Tania Stepanian
Jill Tarter, PhD, President
Emeritus
Richard T. Thieriot
Charles H. Townes, PhD**
Thomas W. Tusher
Robert D. Valdez
Jerome C. Vascellaro, Chair Emeritus
Geerat Vermeij, PhD
Marvalee H. Wake, PhD
Summer Tompkins Walker
Ward B. Watt, PhD, President
Emeritus
Barry L. Williams
Geisha Williams
William Wilson, III**
Russell D. Woo, MD
Paul M. Wythes**
Richard Yorke
Adrienne Zihlman, PhD
Mary Zlot
** deceased
Join the team at the California Academy of Sciences.
