Joanna Haas is head of museum advancement at American Printing House for the Blind, a role which she took on in August 2022. Prior to this, she served as the CEO of the Kentucky Science Center in Louisville, Kentucky, from 2008 to 2020 and as the chief creative officer of the same attraction from 2020 to 2022. She has also spent five years as director of the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and two years as director of the Henry Ford Museum & IMAX Theater in Dearborn, Michigan.
Haas had just taken on the role of chief creative officer at the Kentucky Science Center when the pandemic began to make an impact. Her quick action included leveraging assets she had designed pre-pandemic.
She has also collaborated with Louisville’s Waterfront Park, PlayWorks, a 1.5-acre mash-up of science park, playground and art installation, which is being built as part of a 22.5-acre park expansion to Louisville’s west. PlayWorks uses authentic and salvaged equipment as a catalyst for families and kids to “Make Play Out of Work”. Visitors will play and learn amid real river and industrial artefacts in context including cranes, buoy tender components, boat propellers, giant construction equipment, nautical chains, culverts and more.
In addition, Haas led the science centre’s Uniquely Human project, set to open in 2023 following input from hundreds of staff, visitors, donors, subject matter and design experts, community advisors and young adults. Uniquely Human pivoted during the early days of COVID, but more so in response to the local killing of Breonna Taylor and the status of racism as a public health crisis in Louisville. This safe, contemplative, engaging space encourages reflection on self-habits, connection through empathy and understanding, and action using new knowledge and insights.
One nominator said: “Haas has always been a creative, innovative, inspiring leader – recognised by countless museum professionals as bold, fearless, fast and visionary.”