Marilyn Jackson
President & CEO
The American Alliance of Museums
Marilyn Jackson, president & CEO of the American Alliance of Museums ( AAM ), is reshaping leadership within the museum industry. Since assuming her position in 2024, she has launched a bold strategic plan for the country's leading museum organisation.
Jackson is a passionate supporter of museums nationally. Under her leadership, AAM has coordinated a cohesive response to federal threats to cultural funding, attracted extensive media coverage, and raised public awareness about how federal policies affect US museums.
As AAM begins a new year of strategic planning, the choices made by Jackson, the AAM board, and the leadership team will shape the Alliance's work and enhance its service to members through learning, community building, advocacy, and practice management.
Her leadership is inclusive and oriented towards the future. She adopts a tech-savvy, data-informed approach rooted in strong values, fostering collaboration across different disciplines, sectors, and age groups. Whether engaging with Congressional leaders or hearing from student interns, she leads with humility, clarity of vision, and intentionality.
Jackson previously served as president and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky. She is an experienced strategic nonprofit leader, a committed champion for education, and approaches income development with an entrepreneurial mindset. She holds an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and a BS in Biology and Society from Cornell University.
Appointed after an extensive search, Jackson is the first person of colour and the first Black woman to lead AAM. Speaking about her appointment in 2024, she said:
"Museums and cultural institutions are vital assets that play crucial roles in educating, uniting, inspiring, delighting, and fostering empathy in our communities.
"I am honored to embark on the journey of leading the museum sector into an exciting new chapter, building upon the successes achieved under AAM’s current strategic plan, and exploring innovative ways to foster growth and enhance the sector’s support for our communities."
