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New President And CEO For The National World War I Museum

courtesy National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial

The National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial on Monday announced Matthew C. Naylor, PhD, a native of Australia, as its new President and CEO.

Naylor has more than two decades of experience in non-profit leadership, including, most recently, as director of advancement at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

Previously, he'd served as president of an Independence, Missouri-based humanitarian organization, Outreach International, and in leadership roles, such as president of the Australia region, at Community of Christ.

The 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I is just about a year away. In January, President Obama signed into law the World War I Centennial Commission Act, establishing a Centennial Commission based at the museum.

Board of Directors chair Mary D. Cohen has served as interim CEO since August 2012. In a release, Cohen described Naylor as "the ideal leader to take this organization through the World War I centennial events, to create and articulate our ongoing vision, and to showcase the museum globally."

Naylor starts his new role at the museum on June 17, 2013.

Kansas City is known for its style of jazz, influenced by the blues, as the home of Walt Disney’s first animation studio and the headquarters of Hallmark Cards. As one of KCUR’s arts reporters, I want people here to know a wide range of arts and culture stories from across the metropolitan area. I take listeners behind the scenes and introduce them to emerging artists and organizations, as well as keep up with established institutions. Send me an email at lauras@kcur.org or follow me on Twitter @lauraspencer.
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