Shelli Herman and Associates Seeking CEO for Children’s Discovery Museum San Jose
October 15, 2025 – Los Angeles-based Shelli Herman and Associates has been selected by Children’s Discovery Museum San Jose to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. Responsible for developing and implementing plans that increase mission delivery, the CEO will play a key role in shaping and realizing the Museum’s future. Post-pandemic efforts have enabled a resilient, lean, and adaptable organization, laying the groundwork for future growth and success.
The museum’s next CEO will build on this foundation to help the museum become the top destination for children and families in the region and a model in innovative education and early learning, while also expanding access and community outreach. Working with an enthusiastic and dedicated community, an engaged and effective board, and a talented and diverse team, the CEO will offer an inspiring vision grounded in operational expertise to propel Children’s Discovery Museum toward greater impact and serve as a model for similar initiatives in other regions. The museum’s next chief executive will lead with curiosity and a passion for early childhood education and development, creating learning opportunities that inspire others.
The CEO is expected to be a prominent on-site presence and resource, as well as an actively engaged San Jose and South Bay/Silicon Valley community member and relationship builder. Bay Area candidates interested in this role will be expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to leadership in San Jose and the surrounding communities served by the museum. For Bay Area candidates who do not already reside in San Jose or adjacent served communities, a commitment to relocating is strongly preferred to ensure success in the role.
The successful candidate will hold a bachelor’s degree, ideally in education, business, or non-profit management, with an advanced degree preferred or a combination of professional experiences that optimize success in the role. Shelli Herman and Associates is seeking a dynamic, innovative, and proactive executive with demonstrated oversight experience in an organization that has multiple revenue streams. The ideal candidate will combine a passion for creative engagement and education with proven managerial skills and operational expertise.
Candidates may come from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to museums, science centers, top non-profits, or cultural institutions and programs known for innovation and thought leadership. Experience in executive non-profit management, working with a board of directors, and success in a mission-driven organization focused on childhood development and fostering a love of learning would be beneficial.
The Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose (CDM) is a hands-on, play-based learning center located in downtown San Jose that invites children and families to explore and discover through interactive exhibits. Housed in a distinctive purple building designed by architect Ricardo Legorreta, it features more than 150 exhibits across indoor and outdoor spaces, including the outdoor nature play area “Bill’s Backyard: Bridge to Nature.”
Related: Shelli Herman and Associates Recruits President and CEO for the Santa Barbara Zoo
Shelli Herman and Associates Inc. serves trailblazing clients across the corporate, non-profit, and higher education sectors. The firm’s long roster of clients includes the Annenberg Foundation; the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation; BENlabs; The Capital Group Companies/American Funds Distributors; City Year, Los Angeles; the Fresno Chaffee Zoo; the Griffith Observatory Foundation; Jewish Family Service LA; Laguna College of Art and Design; Loyola Marymount University; Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium; P.S. ARTS; the Saint Louis Zoo; Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County; the University of California System; the Whitney Museum of American Art; and YWCA Greater Los Angeles.
Shelli Herman and Associates has been called in by the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA) in Omaha, NE, to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. The authority is looking for a talented president and CEO to provide strong leadership and strategic guidance, building on its successful foundation as a key driver of Omaha’s continued growth. Reporting to the board of directors, this leader will oversee operations, promotions, and management of MECA’s venues, including CHI Health Center Omaha, Charles Schwab Field Omaha, and the Tri-Park Complex (The RiverFront).
Shelli Herman, who has more than 25 years of executive recruitment experience, has a strong record of leading searches and building upper management teams for a diverse clientele, including Fortune 500 companies. She has completed senior-level assignments in many industries, including consumer products, healthcare, high technology, and finance, as well as for non-profit, conservation, and cultural organizations. Additionally, she brings an in-depth understanding of the unique cultural environment of academia that was gained while she held significant management positions at the University of Florida and Loyola Marymount University.
City Year Search
Shelli Herman and Associates was also recently retained by City Year to lead in its search for a senior vice president and executive director. The organization is seeking an innovative, dynamic, entrepreneurial, and people-focused leader to serve as the senior on-site executive. The position offers the right candidate the chance to play a key role in advocating for and promoting public education in Los Angeles and Inglewood schools through national service.
City Year helps students and schools succeed, while preparing the next generation of leaders. City Year AmeriCorps members provide support to students, classrooms and the whole school. Schools that partner with City Year are up to two to three times more likely to improve in English and math assessments, and the more time students spend with AmeriCorps members, the more they improve on skills that help students thrive in school and contribute to their community.
Related: Shelli Herman and Associates Leading Top Accounting and Finance Role for UniHealth Foundation
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
