Leadership Cabinet

Lindsay Bierman joined the Exploratorium as Executive Director and CEO in April 2022. He drives the institution’s strategic priorities across multiple lines of business, leads its fundraising efforts, and works to expand its impact locally, nationally, and internationally. Previously, Lindsay served as CEO of PBS North Carolina, one of the nation’s largest PBS affiliates, which he transformed into a leading-edge regional hub for national content development, digital distribution, K–12 education services, and public safety communications. From 2014 to 2019, he served as the eighth Chancellor of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, one of seventeen constituent campuses in the UNC System and home to some of the highest-ranked professional training programs in the world. As the university's Chief Executive Officer, he oversaw a $65 million budget; led nearly 500 faculty and staff; served more than 2,500 exceptionally talented high school, undergraduate, graduate, community school, and summer school students; drove a 30% year-over-year increase in applications; completed comprehensive master plans for the main campus and a 1,300-seat performing arts center in the heart of downtown Winston-Salem; and amassed the largest donations in the institution’s history.

Lindsay began his career in New York City as a designer and writer for renowned architect Robert A. M. Stern. In 1997, he transitioned to a 17-year run with consumer media giant Time Warner. In 2010 he was named Editor in Chief of Time Inc.’s iconic magazine, Southern Living, where he led a top-to-bottom repositioning to serve 18 million consumers each month, stabilized and diversified the brand’s $100 million revenues through a historic economic recession, increased the coveted 18–34 audience, reduced operating costs, and won more than two dozen first-time industry awards. He holds a BA in history from Georgetown University and an MA in architecture from the University of Virginia.

Anne joined the Exploratorium in 2012 and prior to being named Chief of Staff, was the Senior Director of Science, Arts, and Research. In this capacity she developed and implemented priorities for visitor-focused exhibits and programs at Pier 15 and oversaw the program development and operations of the Exploratorium’s core science, arts, and research teams. As Chief of Staff, Anne works closely with the CEO on creating and implementing strategic institutional priorities and initiatives and ensuring organizational and operational advancement. She provides strategic guidance and support to senior leadership to accelerate the progress of opportunities and connections, and manages the work of the leadership cabinet. Prior to working at the Exploratorium, Anne spent 15 years in various fundraising and operational leadership positions in a variety of nonprofit organizations. She entered the workforce as a community organizer and spent many years organizing and building community-based political power in South Central Los Angeles. A classically trained opera singer, Anne holds a BA in history and music from Mills College.

As Chief Brand Officer, Julie is responsible for developing comprehensive, integrated expressions of the Exploratorium’s brand via marketing, communications, and creative campaigns. In her role, she oversees Marketing, Communications, Membership, and the museum’s Media Studio, which includes Graphic Design, Editorial, Photography, Multimedia, and Online Media. Julie has developed business models and worked with local publishers on several Exploratorium publications including The Art of Tinkering, Seeing, and The Art of Curiosity. Prior to joining the Exploratorium in 2010, Julie’s professional experience included various marketing and product development and buying roles with Hasbro, the DaMert Company, The Nature Company, and Gap Inc. She holds a BA in philosophy from Sarah Lawrence College and an MBA in sustainable enterprise from Dominican University of California. Ellie, her energetic yellow lab, is never far from her side.

Jason joined the Exploratorium in July 2022. He is responsible for co-creating and fostering an engaging and inclusive work environment that supports the positive contributions of our diverse employees, interns, and volunteers. Jason provides strategic leadership and support for the team that drives all Human Resources, Volunteer Engagement, and DEIA initiatives. In this role, he also partners with the internal communications team in ways that promote the timely flow of information. The organization’s commitment to anti-racism and equity, along with its “dedication to awareness” is what inspires his work and drives his efforts.  

A native of Detroit, Jason has over 20 years of domestic and international experience in organizational development, coaching, training, DEI, and HR. Jason has worked in for profit, nonprofit, academic, and government organizations, and across several industries. He has had the opportunity to support and collaborate with several leadership teams, including Gulfstream Aerospace, Southern California Gas Company, The Aerospace Corporation, and Oracle. When not working, Jason enjoys spending time with family, traveling, listening to music or audiobooks, and sports.  

Anne leads Global Collaborations, working closely with partners worldwide and their communities to achieve shared goals for impact. She joined the Exploratorium in 2003 and spent her first decade directing the Field Trip Explainer Program, while also completing her doctoral dissertation on science-learner identity development in a community of practice. In 2013 she successfully launched and directed Helix, a grant-funded, one-year, experimental community science center. Anne brings to this work deep commitments to learning and to community, with extensive experience and a highly collaborative approach. In her early career, she developed and implemented learning experiences at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Department of Environment, Mass Audubon, and the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Anne holds a PhD and an MS in environmental studies from Antioch University New England, and a BA in art history from Northwestern University.

Tom Rockwell is a Creative Director at the Exploratorium, San Francisco’s museum of science, art, and human perception. Since joining the Exploratorium in 2005, Tom has led the exhibits and media departments, the development of new galleries for the museum's move to the waterfront in 2013, as well as the Geometry Playground exhibition and other National Science Foundation supported projects. His interests include exhibiting the human sciences, mathematics, and fundamental physical phenomena, as well as exploring the relationship between science, art, and religion. Prior to coming to San Francisco Tom founded and ran Painted Universe, Inc. where projects included exhibitions such as It’s a Nano World, The Enchanted Museum: Exploring the Science of Art, and illustrations for The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene.

Rob Semper joined the Exploratorium in 1977. Over the years he has had a career developing exhibits and exhibitions onsite and worldwide, creating teacher education programs, producing publications, films, online media and communication programs, expanding the informal science education field and leading major initiatives including the recent relocation of the institution to Pier 15/17. Currently as Chief Learning Officer, Rob provides strategy and oversight to the science and science education work of the Exploratorium and represents the Exploratorium to the broader world of science, science centers, and STEM education. As Senior Director of Educator Engagement, Rob is also responsible for developing and leading the institutional strategy for educator learning programs. Rob is the author of many journal articles and invited papers and conference talks, and he has been Principal Investigator on over 50 federally and privately funded projects that include developing new online and media resources, experiments using technology to enhance the museum visitor experience, and programs for teachers and museum educators. In 2018, Rob was selected as a member of the Federal STEM Education Advisory Panel, which meets twice a year to evaluate and offer guidance on the federal government’s strategic plan for STEM education. Awards include APS Fellow 2019; AAAS Fellow, 2006; and the NSTA 2006 Faraday Science Communicator Award. Before joining the Exploratorium, Rob taught physics and conducted solid state, elementary particle and nuclear physics research. He received his PhD in solid-state physics from the Johns Hopkins University.

Rob Semper's CV

Phoebe White has been with the Exploratorium since 2011. She has taken on multiple leadership roles including Chief of Staff, Chief Operating Officer, and Managing Director. Phoebe’s been supporting the development and implementation of strategic and operational priorities and developing teams with a focus on collaboration and alignment with the Exploratorium’s values and goals. In her current role as Chief Museum Officer, she is responsible for the Exploratorium Museum at Pier 15 in San Francisco, ensuring that her teams provide a welcoming, accessible, and relevant experience that inspires curiosity and learning for all.

Prior to the Exploratorium, Phoebe spent six years in various leadership positions in the biotech industry, including Chief of Staff positions at Applied Biosystems and Life Technologies, managing the Applied Biosystems Genetic Assay business, and eight years as a management consultant at Bain & Company working for technology, healthcare, and biotech clients. She has served on several nonprofit boards including Community Resources for Science, a Bay Area nonprofit supporting science education in public K–8 schools and The Hamlin School. Phoebe holds an MA in physics and philosophy from Oxford University, and a PhD in developmental genetics from the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge UK.

Blair joined the Exploratorium staff as the Director of Special Projects for Institutional Advancement in 2015. In his current role, Blair is responsible for facilitating all contributed income strategies supporting the museum’s programs and operations. He also oversees the capital campaign and related planning and outreach. Prior to joining the Exploratorium, Blair was the Director of Advancement for Illuminate the Arts where he completed the fundraising necessary to ensure that Leo Villareal’s light sculpture, The Bay Lights, was reinstalled permanently on the San Francisco Bay Bridge. He has more than 20 years of for-profit and not-for-profit arts management and fundraising experience in New York City and the Bay Area. Blair served as the Deputy Director of Development and Director of Development at SFMOMA, and as the Associate Director and Development Director of Headlands Center for the Arts, an international artist residency program in the Marin Headlands. A native of San Francisco, Blair also served as Development Director for the New Museum of Contemporary Art and The Drawing Center, both in New York City. He has a BA in art history from San Francisco State University and an MA in nonprofit administration from New York University.

Laura Zander joined the Exploratorium in 2007. She is responsible for managing the Finance and Accounting, Information Technology, and Campus Facilities groups as well as our Real Estate activities and relationship with the Port of San Francisco. Laura spent the early part of her career in commercial banking and project finance with a specific focus on Latin America at three large financial institutions in New York. She moved to San Francisco in 1999 to get involved in high technology. Laura worked as a CFO to start-up and midsized Internet and high-technology companies in the Bay Area. In 2003, she moved into the not-for-profit sector as Chief Financial and Operating Officer for the Peninsula Jewish Community Center, where she was involved in its large construction and relocation project. Laura holds a BA from Columbia University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.