The Children’s Museum of Wilmington is excited to announce its new Executive Director

DOWNTOWN WILMINGTON, NC - The Children’s Museum of Wilmington is pleased to announce that Heather Sellgren has been named as Executive Director. Effective October 26th, Sellgren will replace outgoing Executive Director James Karl who has been at the helm for four years. Karl made great strides in advancing the Museum’s exhibit content, membership and admission numbers, database capabilities, and has broadly improved the Museum’s financial stability. Karl is relocating to New Bern where he will endeavor to find his next challenge.

Currently the Director of Development, Sellgren has been with the Museum for over three years. Her responsibilities have centered around donor relations, community engagement, event planning, and other fundraising efforts. She is eager to expand the Museum’s presence in the community, establish a closer connection with Museum supporters, and regularly update the educational content of its exhibit space and programming.

The Children’s Museum of Wilmington has been providing families in southeastern North Carolina with inspiring and engaging activities for 23 years. Amongst other things, the Museum offers educational exhibits and programming, summer camps, birthday parties, outreach programs, and field trips. “We fill a unique void in southeastern North Carolina, specifically in downtown Wilmington where there are limited opportunities for children,” Sellgren said. “With the Museum’s pandemic-related closure, it has been a very difficult 6 months. But now that we are re-opened and welcoming the public back, we look forward to expanding our connections in the community and making our name mainstream in the greater Wilmington area.”

Prior to working at The Children’s Museum of Wilmington, Sellgren was the Director of Development at The Hill School of Wilmington, a school for children with learning disabilities and/or ADHD. Her passion for children is evident in her volunteer role history with Thalian Association Children’s Theater, New Hanover County Council of PTA’s and Communities in Schools. Sellgren has been a member of the Cape Fear Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals for five years.

About The Children's Museum of Wilmington: The Children’s Museum of Wilmington is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides a safe and fun place where children can actively learn through creative and imaginative play. Comprised of three historic downtown Wilmington properties, the Museum offers 17,000 sq ft and four floors of educational exhibits for children up to age 10. Additionally, the Museum offers daily programs, grant funded community outreach, summer camps and special monthly events. For more information on everything the Museum has to offer, please visit www.playwilmington.org.