Spencer has some familiarity with Bishop, which she first visited in 2016 when the AMNH exhibition “Dinosaur Discoveries” was on loan to the museum.
“I’ve been increasingly impressed with the museum’s vision ever since,” she said in a statement. “I think we have an amazing opportunity to showcase the museum as a thought leader in science and education while building upon the community-centered experience it offers.”
Board chair Brian Carter said the museum “grew and evolved” during Besio’s tenure. In a statement, he said in the last five years, Bishop “put a new emphasis on creating experiences to inspire curiosity and discovery, opened a new education wing as well as the Mosaic Backyard Universe, developed new work and education spaces, and even unveiled a new name and brand.”