Indianapolis Children’s Museum selects new president/CEO

INDIANAPOLIS – The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has named a 29-year veteran of the attraction to be its new president and CEO.

After Jeffrey Patchen notified museum staff of his retirement from those positions Friday, Jennifer Pace Robinson was named Saturday to succeed him, effective immediately. She had been the museum’s executive vice-president since earlier this year.

Robinson joined The Children’s Museum in 1992 and became vice-president of experience development and family learning in 2006, overseeing exhibit development, family and school programs and other areas, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported.

“Jennifer’s flair for design and passion for education consistently captures the attention and admiration of museum experts worldwide,” said Julie Carmichael, the museum’s chairman of the board. “Jennifer is so well-respected on the global stage that she has been asked to serve as an international consultant to emerging museums, including those in Egypt, China, Japan and South Korea.”

Patchen led the museum for 21 years, guiding three expansions, including those of its Dinosphere and the Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience.

Founded in 1925, the museum recorded 1.2 million visitors in 2018 and 1.3 million visitors in 2019. It temporarily closed last year because the pandemic.