Susan Marenoff-Zausner

Susan Marenoff-Zausner is president of the Intrepid Museum. Since becoming the museum's first female president in 2011, she has transformed it into a globally recognised cultural and educational hub. Under her leadership, the museum's annual visitorship has doubled to over one million, and it has continually ranked among New York City’s leading cultural attractions.

Marenoff-Zausner played a key role in bringing the space shuttle Enterprise to the Museum in 2012, a significant achievement that boosted the institution’s profile across regional, national, and international levels, greatly enriching New York’s cultural landscape. She also led a $115 million renovation, which involved restoring historic spaces, refurbishing aircraft, and adding interactive exhibits.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Marenoff-Zausner navigated two closures with innovation, pivoting to virtual programming that reached millions worldwide. Her dedication to education and accessibility has resulted in award-winning STEM programs impacting over 100,000 young people annually. Under her leadership, the Intrepid Museum has received numerous honours, most recently being named a Travelers Choice Award recipient by Tripadvisor.

Apart from her responsibilities at the Intrepid Museum, she has actively promoted positive change. She was the venue director for the 1999 Women’s World Cup, served on the Small Communities Incentive (SCI) Grants board, which offers scholarships for underserved children to attend sleepaway camps, and currently leads a local ACEing Autism chapter, providing affordable tennis programs for children with autism spectrum disorder.

Marenoff-Zausner serves on the board and executive committee of NYC Tourism, the organisation responsible for tourism, marketing, and partnerships in New York City. She is also a board member of the Englewood Health Foundation. In acknowledgement of her achievements, she has been included in AMNY Metro and PoliticsNY's Power Players in Tourism and Hospitality list, as well as one of City & State New York’s Above & Beyond Innovators.