A single thought can change your life. Nan Selz knows. She made her first trip to the Museum of Discovery with her oldest grandson, Joshua, and knew immediately it would be a great place to work.
The thought stayed with her. She inquired about a development position at the museum. No harm in thinking about it. She had quite a résumé: at least a dozen professional jobs and many accolades for her work on nonprofit boards. She graduated from Little Rock Central High School in 1957 and received her B.A. from Vassar College in 1961, 9 hours toward certification as a teacher from George Washington University and an M.A. in English from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Selz did not get the development position. However, the thoughtful hiring committee asked her to consider applying for executive director.
In 2004 the new executive director entered on the heels of a 2003 merger with the Children’s Museum of Arkansas. It secured its role as the major nonprofit institution in the city dedicated to providing interactive learning experiences that challenge children and adults alike. In 2006, the Museum of Discovery became the hub of a statewide network of seven museums, the Arkansas Discovery Network, whose goal is to bring discovery learning experiences to people all over Arkansas.
In 2008 the museum received a $9.2 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation to fund a major expansion, renovation and renewal. This project included a visible, accessible entrance directly on Clinton Avenue; renovation of old space into three distinct galleries that interpret the three main branches of science—health science, earth science and physical science; all new exhibits that reflect the latest technology and are innovative, hands-on and interactive; and more open areas for public gatherings and presentations to large groups.
The façade, entry hall and Explore Store are all brand new. The galleries are completely renovated, with better sight lines and a much more open feel. Room to Grow, the 3,000-square-foot, early childhood gallery, stayed pretty much the same, but it has been spiffed up with new paint and flooring.
“I was privileged to work with some wonderful professionals on the construction/renovation phase of the project. Porter Brownlee was our owner’s representative, the liaison between the museum and the contractor and architect. Rick Redden and Chris East of AMR Architects took our simple ideas and made them functional and beautiful. Our contractor, East-Harding, lived up to its motto, “Client-Focused Construction,” making the whole process as positive and painless as any construction project of this magnitude can be,” Selz said.
There will be a dedication for donors, dignitaries and the press on the morning of January 13. That afternoon there will be an open house for members, donors and their families. On January 14, the museum will open to the general public. “We are not planning a gala grand reopening,” Selz said. “We think that the museum itself is the star, so we don’t need a celebrity or an elegant affair to bring people in.”
Her specific role was to lead the team of staff and board members who decided to work with the Science Museum of Minnesota on the contents of the Little Rock museum. “Their history mirrored our own, and they have long been recognized for best practices in the museum field. They helped us develop the plan to have three galleries covering the three major branches of science,” Selz said.
“This museum project will have more impact on the community than anything else I have ever done,” she said, “but I certainly didn’t do it alone. The museum staff and board share most of the credit.”