David E. Chesebrough, Ed.D. Email & Phone Number

Columbus, Oh, Us

Project Inspire seeks to create a National STEM Learning system anchored with STEM Parks, STEM Hubs and partners across the country of Tanzania. I will be serving as a resource and advisor to Dr. Lwidiko Mhamilawa and his team to achieve this notable effort supporting the Tanzanian government's economic and educational goals. My new role expands on the work I've been doing with Project Inspire since late 2021.

Columbus, Ohio Area

After 30+ years of leadership in the science center and museum fields, and numerous experiences also as a board member and leader, I now serve as an advisor, coach and consultant for museum and non-profit CEOs and Boards. Leaders often need a trusted outside expert as they tackle problems, plan the future and secure funds to deliver on their mission. I am a value-add to an organization tapping into my years as a problem solver, change agent and turnaround specialist. Clients gain from my extensive leadership experiences, research and practice in partnerships, expertise in new, sustainable museum models and prior years as an entrepreneur working with companies like Apple Computer. Over the last 20+ years I served as a CEO and led the rejuvenation of three museums (most notably COSI in Columbus). By the end of my tenure, each organization I led was better integrated into, and more impactful on, its community, had refreshed experiences, an improved culture, was free of debt, and financially stronger. My teams learned to incorporate smart business practices, add strategic partnerships and focus on meeting our region’s special needs in areas of the museum’s strength. I conceived and led the fundraising to assure the success in each case, securing public, individual, corporate and foundation support totaling tens of millions of dollars.I have been asked to share my expertise, including my refined business model approach (Great, Sustainable Impact), through workshops and presentations for international and national associations, numerous articles, and my consultations.I draw on my successful experiences across a wide range of situations, my international network of CEO colleagues and extensive collection of case studies to help my clients achieve the best for their organizations in service to their communities.

Columbus, Ohio

Support the President & CEO and broader museum field from my new position.

Columbus, Ohio Area

I was brought in after the venerable COSI was moved to a new 320,000 square foot facility and ran into serious financial challenges. Prior to my arrival COSI had needed significant layoffs, budget cuts and closed large portions of the building to stay solvent. During my CEO tenure, we grew earned revenue over 75% ($6 million), reopened all the shuttered spaces with improved experiences, built a multi-million cash reserve, had surplus budgets and developed several award-winning partnerships. COSI’s dedicated early learning space was transformed and grew into a major integrated children’s museum serving a quarter million every year just by itself.COSI was selected as #1 Science Center by Parent’s Magazine along with many other awards. Our new Center of Science model won awards and recognition, leading to COSI being selected to host the 2012 international ASTC conference for the field to see the model in action.All of this positioned COSI to anchor what is becoming an exceptional urban redevelopment project in Columbus.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

I was involved at the leadership level of the association for many years including serving as Treasurer, Executive Committee member and Education Committee leader. A key player in the strategic rethinking and repositioning of the association which laid the foundation for the selection of a new association President. Was selected for the ASTC Leadership in the Field award at the end of my tenure.

Shortly after my arrival I had to lead the museum through a serious financial crisis brought about by the significant stock market decline after the tech bubble burst and New York suffered from the 9/11 attacks. To regain financial sustainability we restructured the museum, better tapped the natural history collections, refreshed and improved experiences, revitalized the museum-school partnership with the attached inner-city elementary school, and repositioned the museum in the community. I led the development of a new master plan and raised the initial funds for new experiences and improvements to the museum and its Tifft Nature Preserve.

Binghamton, Ny

Roberson was complex and financially stretched with multiple disciplines (science, art, history, astronomy), four historic buildings (one having suffered a fire), a planetarium and a separate observatory and space education center. I led the team and Board through a master planning process, expanded the museum and observatory’s reach and programs in financially sustainable ways, restored the fire damaged carriage house as an education center, added a new entrance and state visitor center, and revitalized the museum and mansion experiences. I led the securing of $5 million dollars from donors, state and national government sources, local foundations and corporations to make the significant improvements to better use the historic buildings and museum complex and its separate Kopernik Observatory & Space Education Center.

I was a member of the leadership team that designed, built and opened the Carnegie Science Center in 1991 as part of an urban redevelopment project in Pittsburgh. This gave me my early experience in conceiving new institutions, managing construction projects and building public-private partnerships. I served in a variety of leadership roles—Senior Scientist, Asst. Director of Education and Development Director. In those roles I helped to manage development and construction of 40,000 square feet of exhibits for the new center; establish, grow and fund all educational programs, outreach, and teacher training for elementary science methods in partnership with Duquesne University (where I also held a position); and served on regional and statewide education committees and task forces.The Carnegie Science Center is a member of the Carnegie Museums, an array of major museums including among others the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Museum of Art and Andy Warhol Museum.

Sewickley Academy is a K-12 Private School outside of Pittsburgh, PA, where I was the educational technology leader after serving as science and math teacher. We were at the forefront of computer use in schools and I was asked by the Board to initiate and lead the first computer use across the schools. This required me to lead the design and construction of multiple computer labs, develop curriculum from scratch, explore meaningful applications of computers across K-12, train teachers at all levels and across all disciplines and teach student courses on computer use and programming. I was engaged with MIT and the dissemination of the Logo educational computer language and my curriculum became a published classroom guide.Under my leadership the schools established the first high school program program in country to require computer use by all high school students, earning recognition and award from Apple Computer. This led to my consultation with Apple Computer on educational technology integration in schools and national speaking and workshop engagements. The curriculum and teacher guides I wrote for the use of AppleWorks in the classrooms as an integrated tool became best selling educational books.

Doctorate, Educational Leadership

Doctoral study was national survey of museum-community partnerships among leading national museums, sponsored by American Association.

Masters Of Science, Science Education

B.S., Physics/Mathematics

Activities and Societies: Co-Captain of Cross-country record, held university record in 6 mile track event, competed in national.

H.S. Diploma, Sciences & Math