Berkshire Museum Board of Trustees Elects New President| 11:13AM / Friday, September 30, 2016 | |
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The gavel was passed to a new president at the annual meeting of the Berkshire Museum’s Board of Trustees held Monday, Sept. 26.
Elizabeth "Buzz" Hayes McGraw is taking the reins as president; she has been a trustee since 2008 and has served as vice-president since 2013. William “Bill” Hines Jr. will resume his role as a trustee after serving as president for five years; he joined the board in 2007.
"There are great things happening at the Berkshire Museum, and I am honored to step up and lead the board as we continue with our strategic master planning process," said McGraw. "The master plan is an unprecedented opportunity to reshape the way the museum fulfills its mission and serves the wider Berkshire Community, and it is a privilege to participate in this very important transformation. Bill Hines has done a magnificent job initiating the planning process. Those of us on the Board are so grateful for all he has done for the museum."
During his tenure as president of the board, in addition to overseeing the launch of the master planning process, Hines was instrumental in working with the board and staff to achieve significant improvements to the museum, including new architectural access for museum visitors made possible by the installation of a passenger-operated elevator, and upgrades to its energy and fire safety systems. During the same time period, the museum was named a Smithsonian Affiliate and was able to widely expand its educational programs, serving record numbers of students each successive year.
The annual meeting proceedings also included the unanimous election of Betsey Selkowitz as a Crane Honorary Life Trustee, an honor bestowed on an individual who is "deemed by the Board to have served the Museum in an exemplary manner over an extended period." Selkowitz first became a Trustee in 1986, was president of the Board twice, and even did a short stint as Acting Director in 1989. She joins Michael Christopher and C. Jeffrey Cook, the current Crane Honorary Life Trustees.
Trustees Howard J. Eberwein and Carol Riordan were re-elected to two-year terms. Trustees Jay Bikofsky and David Glodt were re-elected for three-year terms. Trustees Ursula Ehret-Dichter, William M. Hines Jr., Elizabeth McGraw, and Jeffrey Noble were re-elected to one-year terms. Trustees who continue to serve are Mike Addy, Stephen Bayne, Douglas Crane, Nancy Edman Feldman, Wendy Gordon, Joan Hunter, Ethan Klepetar, Eric Korenman, Barbara Krauthamer, Donna Krenicki, Suzanne Nash, Lydia S. Rosner, Melissa Scarafoni, and Stacey Gillis Weber.
In addition to the election of McGraw as the new president, the annual meeting included the election of the following slate of officers: Stacey Gillis Weber was re-elected vice-president, Ethan Klepetar was elected vice-president, Lydia S. Rosner was re-elected secretary and Carol Riordan was re-elected treasurer.
McGraw has more than 20 years of experience as a science educator. She taught biology, chemistry, environmental science and physical science at Berkshire School, headed the high school's science department at Berkshire Country Day School, and taught biology at Miss Hall’s School. She is currently working with students at Indian Mountain School and Salisbury School. McGraw also held education positions with the Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York, and Aspen Center for Environmental Studies. McGraw resides in South Egremont with her husband Robin and their family.
With a shared commitment to serving the community, the McGraws administer the Black Rock Foundation, which supports education and health care programs in the Berkshires. She holds a master’s degree in forest science from Yale University and a bachelor of arts in biology with a minor in studio art from Hamilton College.
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