Noelle Trent is president and CEO of the Museum of African American History in Boston and Nantucket, New England’s largest museum dedicated to preserving, conserving and interpreting the contributions of African Americans.
Trent has not only made her mark on some of the most significant museums dedicated to African American history and culture, such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, the National Civil Rights Museum, and most recently, the Museum of African American History, but she also has a long history of bringing about real change in the museum industry as a whole.
Trent has held positions on a number of boards and committees for associations of museums, such as the executive committee of the Association of African American Museums, the American Alliance of Museums Content Advisory Committee, and the programme chair of the American Association of State and Local History 2023 annual conference.
The Museum of African American History links the abolition of slavery, contemporary explorations of race and the fight for human rights with colonial and early African American history and culture in Boston and the greater New England region. The museum highlights, analyses, and preserves the origins of the abolitionist movement and the ongoing fight for human rights. It is home to four original African American buildings constructed at the nation’s founding.
A not-for-profit historical organisation, the Museum was founded in 1963. It is well-known both nationally and internationally for its collection of historic sites in Boston and Nantucket, which includes two African Meeting Houses, Abiel Smith School, Seneca Boston- Florence Higginbotham House, and the Black Heritage Trails. Trent took on her role at the museum in summer 2023. Prior to this, she was director of interpretation, collections & education at the National Civil Rights Museum, a position she held from September 2015.