Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees of the Virginia Museum of Natural History shall manage, control, maintain, and operate the Museum; appoint the Director of the Museum and prescribe his duties; and prescribe rules and regulations for the operation of the Museum.

Meeting Notices

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings will take place at the Virginia Museum of Natural History located at 21 Starling Avenue, Martinsville, Virginia, 24112. For questions or more information, please contact Mary Zell Galen, Administrative Coordinator.

May 2022

Friday, May 20 - Saturday, May 21, 2022
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Board Retreat
A Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees board retreat will take place Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21 in Port Republic, Virginia and other locations in and around the Harrisonburg, Virginia area. The retreat will include meetings of the VMNH BOT (full board meeting), the VMNH BOT Executive Committee, the VMNH BOT Research & Collections Committee, the VMNH BOT Education & Public Programs Committee, Strategic Planning Discussion, Strategic Planning Work, and activities. For more information and details, please visit the May 2022 Board of Trustees Retreat webpage.

FEBRUARY 2022

Saturday, February 19, 2022 at 9 a.m.
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Education and Public Programs Committee Meeting [THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO SICKNESS.]
Agenda
Please note that no public comment will be taken at this meeting.

Saturday, February 19, 2022 at 9 a.m.
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Research & Collections Meeting
Agenda
Please note that no public comment will be taken at this meeting.

Saturday, February 19, 2022 at 10:30 a.m.
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Meeting
Please note that no public comment will be taken at this meeting. A live broadcast of this meeting will be available on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

• Schedule of Activities
• Agenda
• November 2021 Minutes
• Second QT FT22
• VMNH Budget FY23 and FY24
• VMNH Capital Projects FY22
• FY2022 Advancement Report July - December
• Research and Collections Committee Report October - December 2021
• Education Committee Agenda
• Waynesboro Advocacy Committee Report February 2022
• VMNH Board roster January 2022
• BOT Bylaws May 2019
• VMNH Committee Assignments 2021-2022

JANUARY 2022

Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at 1 p.m.
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Waynesboro Advocacy Committee Meeting
The Waynesboro Advocacy Committee will meet virtually at 1 p.m. on the Zoom platform. No public comment will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

NOVEMBER 2021

November 19, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. (Please note this meeting was originally scheduled for 3:30 p.m.)
Agenda
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Executive Committee Meeting
The Executive Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on November 19, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. at the Virginia Museum of Natural History. No public comments will be taken at this meeting.

November 20, 2021 at 9 a.m.
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Education and Public Programs Committee Meeting
Agenda
The Education and Public Programs Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on November 20, 2021 at 9 a.m. at the Virginia Museum of Natural History. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. This meeting can also be viewed live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

November 20, 2021 at 9 a.m.
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Research and Collections Committee
Agenda
Agenda (Revised November 17)
The Research and Collections Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on November 20, 2021 at 9 a.m. at the Virginia Museum of Natural History. No public comments will be taken at this meeting.

November 20, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Quarterly Meeting
Agenda
The VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on November 20, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at the Virginia Museum of Natural History. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. Additional documents related to this meeting can be found directly below. This meeting can be viewed live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

1. Schedule of Activities (November 19-20, 2021)
2. VMNH BOT Meeting Agenda for November 20, 2021
3. VMNH Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes (minutes from August 21, 2021 meeting)
4. Monthly Statement of Income and Expenses (First Quarter FY22)
   
   • 4a. Footnotes FY22
   • 4b. Capital Projects FY22
5. Executive Director's Board Report
   • 5a. Advancement Board Report
6. Facilities Board Report
7. Research and Collections Board Report
8. Finance/Marketing/Advancement Committee Minutes (minutes from September 27, 2021 meeting)
9. Education and Public Programs Committee Agenda and Minutes (minutes from August 21, 2021 meeting)
10. Waynesboro Advocacy Committee Notes
11. Strategic Planning Committee Minutes (minutes from September 27, 2021 meeting)
12. Russell Resolution
13. Cooper Resolution

SEPTEMBER 2021

September 27, 2021 at 11:30 a.m.
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Strategic Planning Committee Meeting
Minutes
The Strategic Planning Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on September 27, 2021 at 11:30 a.m. in Richmond at the Dominion Energy Headquarters at 600 East Canal Street. Room TBA. The public can also view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

September 27, 2021 at 1:30 p.m.
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Finance and Marketing Committee Meeting
Minutes
The Finance and Marketing Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on September 27, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. in Richmond at the Dominion Energy Headquarters at 600 East Canal Street. Room TBA. The public can also view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

AUGUST 2021

August 20, 2021 at 2:30 p.m.
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Facilities Committee Meeting
Agenda
Minutes
The Facilities Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on August 20, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. at the Virginia Museum of Natural History. No public comments will be taken at this meeting.

August 20, 2021 at 4 p.m.
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Executive Committee Meeting
Agenda & Minutes
The Executive Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on August 20, 2021 at 4 p.m. at the Virginia Museum of Natural History. No public comments will be taken at this meeting.

August 21, 2021 at 9 a.m.
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Education and Public Programs Committee Meeting
Agenda
Minutes
The Education Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on August 21, 2021 at 9 a.m. at the Virginia Museum of Natural History. No public comments will be taken at this meeting.

August 21, 2021 at 9 a.m.
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Research and Collections Committee
Agenda
Minutes
The Research and Collections Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on August 21, 2021 at 9 a.m. at the Virginia Museum of Natural History. No public comments will be taken at this meeting.

August 21, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Quarterly Meeting
Agenda
Schedule of Activities
The VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on August 21, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at the Virginia Museum of Natural History. No public comments will be taken at this meeting.

JULY 2021

July 6, 2021 at 1 p.m.
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Waynesboro Advocacy Committee Meeting
Minutes from June 2021 meeting
The Waynesboro Advocacy Committee will meet at 1 p.m. on July 6, 2021 at the Economic Development Offices at 301 West Main Street, Waynesboro, VA 22980. No public comment will be taken at this meeting.

JUNE 2021

June 1, 2021 at 1 p.m. (Virtual Meeting)
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Waynesboro Advocacy Committee Meeting
Agenda and Minutes from previous meeting
Minutes from June 1 Meeting
The Waynesboro Advocacy Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on June 1, 2021 at 1 p.m. via the Zoom platform. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

June 29, 2021 at 2 p.m. (Virtual Meeting)
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Executive Committee Meeting
The Executive Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on June 29, 2021 at 2 p.m. via the Zoom platform. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

MAY 2021

May 4, 2021 at 1 p.m. (Virtual Meeting)
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Waynesboro Advocacy Committee Meeting
Agenda
Agenda & Minutes from previous committee meeting (4/13/21)
The Waynesboro Advocacy Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on May 4, 2021 at 1 p.m. via the Zoom platform. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

May 6, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. (Virtual Meeting)
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Finance and Marketing Committee Meeting
The Finance and Marketing Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on May 6, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. via the Zoom platform. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

May 13, 2021 at 3 p.m. (Virtual Meeting)
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Education Committee Meeting
Agenda (May 13) and Minutes (from February 12 meeting)
The Education Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on May 13, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. via the Zoom platform. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

May 14, 2021 at 4 p.m. (Virtual Meeting)
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Executive Committee Meeting
The Executive Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on May 14, 2021 at 4 p.m. via the Zoom platform. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

May 15, 2021 at 9 a.m. (Virtual Meeting)
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Research and Collections Committee
Agenda
The Research and Collections Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on May 15, 2021 at 9 a.m. via the Zoom platform. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

May 15, 2021 at 9 a.m. (Virtual Meeting) (THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED)
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Facilities Committee Meeting
March 2021 Facilities Committee Minutes
The Facilities Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on May 15, 2021 at 9 a.m. via the Zoom platform. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on YouTube.

May 15, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. (Virtual Meeting)
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Meeting
Agenda
The VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on May 15, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. via the Zoom platform. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel. Additional documents related to this meeting include:

• Schedule of Activities
• May 2021 Meeting Agenda
• February 2021 BOT Meeting Minutes
• Balance Sheet
• Budget Assumptions May 2021
• Education Board Report
• Advancement Report
• Facilities Committee Meeting Notes March 2021
• Research & Collections Committee Meeting Agenda May 2021
• Finance Committee Meeting Minutes May 2021
• Education Committee Meeting Agenda
• Waynesboro Advocacy Committee Meeting Minutes March 2021
• Waynesboro Advocacy Committee Meeting Minutes April 2021
• Waynesboro Advocacy Committee Meeting Minutes May 2021
• Report to University Partners Ad Hoc Committee May 2021
• Strategic Planning Committee Agenda/Minutes March 2021

APRIL 2021

April 13, 2021 at 1 p.m. (Virtual Meeting)
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Waynesboro Advocacy Committee Meeting
Agenda
The Waynesboro Advocacy Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on April 13, 2021 at 1 p.m. via the Zoom platform. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

April 14, 2021 at 10 a.m. (Virtual Meeting)
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Strategic Planning Committee Meeting
Report to Strategic Planning Committee
The Strategic Planning Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on April 14, 2021 at 10 a.m. via the Zoom platform. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

MARCH 2021

March 19, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. (Virtual Meeting)
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Facilities Committee Meeting
The Facilities Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on March 19, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. via the Zoom platform. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

March 2, 2021 at 1 p.m. (Virtual Meeting)
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Waynesboro Advocacy Committee Meeting
The VMNH Board of Trustees Waynesboro Advocacy Committee will meet on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 1 p.m. via the Zoom platform. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

FEBRUARY 2021

February 12, 2021 at 3 p.m. (Virtual Meeting)
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Education Committee Meeting
Agenda
The Education Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on February 12, 2021 at 3 p.m. via the Zoom platform. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

February 12, 2021 at 4 p.m. (Virtual Meeting)
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Executive Committee Meeting
The Executive Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on February 12, 2021 at 4 p.m. via the Zoom platform. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

February 13, 2021 at 9 a.m. (Virtual Meeting)
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Research and Collections Committee Meeting
Agenda
The Research and Collections Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on February 13, 2021 at 9 a.m. via the Zoom platform. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel.

February 13, 2021 at 9 a.m. (Virtual Meeting)
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Facilities Committee Meeting
February 2021 Facilities Committee Report
The Facilities Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on February 13, 2021 at 9 a.m. via the Zoom platform. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on YouTube.

February 13, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. (Virtual Meeting)
Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees Meeting
The VMNH Board of Trustees will meet on February 13, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. via the Zoom platform. No public comments will be taken at this meeting. The public can view this meeting live on the VMNH Meetings YouTube channel. Documents in support of the February 13 Board of Trustees Meeting can be found below:

• Agenda
• Meeting Schedule (Correction: note that the Education and Public Programs Committee will take place on Friday, February 12, 2021 at 3 p.m.)
• November 2020 VMNH BOT Minutes
• Balance Sheet Second Quarter FY21
• Footnotes - Finances Second Quarter FY21
• Executive Director’s Board Report - February 2021
• Minutes of the Virginia Museum of Natural History University Partnerships ad hoc committee meeting
• Advancement Report
• VMNH Facilities Committee Report - February 2021
• Minutes from January 2021 Finance and Marketing Committee meeting
• Education and Public Programs Committee Meeting Agenda 
• VMNH BOT Committee Assignments 2020-2021
• Waynesboro Advocacy Committee Report - February 13, 2021
• Dr. Barry Dorsey Resolution 2021
• Research and Collections Committee Meeting Agenda

Virtual Meeting Archive

Meetings held virtually due to the health situation regarding COVID-19 are streamed live for the public via YouTube. These videos are archived for the public and can be accessed on the VMNH Meetings YouTube Page.

Composition

The Board will consist of fifteen members appointed by the Governor. Two of the members appointed to the Board shall be members of the Virginia Academy of Science. The appointments shall be subject to confirmation by the General Assembly if in session and, if not, then at its next succeeding session.

Trustees

Chair
Jennifer H. Burnett, South Boston

Vice-Chair
Lisa L. Carter, Richmond

Treasurer
Roberto Quinones, McLean

Secretary
Nathan Sanford, Blue Ridge

Trustees
Dr. Makunda Abdul-Mbacke, Axton
Dr. Thomas R. Benzing, Waynesboro
Anne Axton Burnett, Henrico
Mark J. Buss, Manakin-Sabot
Cord L. Cothren, Danville
Dr. Arthur V. Evans, Richmond
Emma Ito, Richmond
Sherri Jordan, Alexandria
Dr. Carole Nash, Harrisonburg
Michael S. Phillips, Richmond
Melany R. Stowe, Ridgeway

2020 VMNH Board Of Trustees Quarterly Meeting Dates

Wednesday, January 22
Agenda
Minutes

Saturday, June 20
Agenda
Minutes

Saturday, August 15
Agenda
Minutes

Saturday, November 21
Agenda
Minutes

Previous VMNH Board of Trustees Committee Meetings Minutes

April 13, 2021
VMNH BOT Waynesboro Advocacy Committee Meeting Minutes

February 13, 2021
VMNH BOT Research and Collections Committee Meeting Minutes

January 15, 2021
VMNH BOT Finance and Marketing Committee Meeting Minutes

January 6, 2021
VMNH BOT Education Committee Meeting Minutes

November 21, 2020
VMNH BOT Research and Collections Committee Meeting Minutes
VMNH BOT Education Committee Meeting Minutes

August 14, 2020
VMNH BOT Executive Committee Meeting Minutes

September 24, 2020
VMNH BOT Facilities Committee Meeting Minutes

October 6, 2020
VMNH BOT Waynesboro Advocacy Committee Meeting Minutes

October 16, 2020
VMNH BOT Strategic Planning Committee Meeting Minutes

October 26, 2020
VMNH BOT Finance & Marketing Committee Meeting Minutes