Public Reception for Gail Naughton’s Retirement

Help us celebrate the legacy of an extraordinary leader and join us at the NCSML on Wednesday, June 20, for a public reception for Gail Naughton, who is retiring this summer after more than 15 years as our President and CEO. The open-house reception is 5:00-7:00 p.m. with refreshments provided. A cash bar will be available.

Under Gail’s leadership, the NCSML rose above the flood disaster of 2008, raising more than $28 million to save the original building, moving it to a higher foundation, and adding 30,000 square feet. The expanded museum re-opened in July 2012, only four years after the flood.

During Gail’s tenure, participation at the museum has grown by 40 percent, including a notable increase in attendance by families and children since the 2012 re-opening. Success in fundraising has put the museum on sound financial footing, and its endowment value has grown from $600,000 to more than $12 million. The NCSML has moved from a regional attraction to an internationally recognized museum with stunning exhibits, educational programs, a wide variety of events, and research programs that put it in the top tier of ethnically based museums in the United States.