Perot Museum Leadership

Chair: Karen Katz

Chair-Elect: David Corrigan

Secretary: Daniel Tobey

Treasurer: Lane Britain

Linda Silver, Ed.D. | Eugene McDermott Chief Executive Officer

Linda Silver, Ed.D., joined the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in July 2017 as the Eugene McDermott Chief Executive Officer. Under her leadership, the Perot Museum has launched several successful new initiatives including the complete redesign of the museum’s Being Human Hall; innovative programs for guest engagement; the installation of a new Paleo Lab that provides visitors real-time views of the museum’s field research and discoveries; the announcement of two Centers of Excellence – in gems and minerals and paleoanthropology; and a partnership with National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Prof. Lee Berger and the University of the Witwatersrand that produced a world-first virtual reality tour of one of the most significant human ancestor fossil sites on Earth.

Prior to leading the Perot Museum, Linda worked for the government of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates where she served as associate director of the Technology Development Committee. While in this position, she oversaw the creation and growth of informal science education initiatives aimed at building a sustainable and diversified knowledge economy for integration into the global ecosystem. Prior to this position, she spent eight years as the president and CEO of Great Lakes Science Center – one of the nation’s leading science and technology centers. She led the center in its first-ever strategic planning process and achieved a financial turnaround, taking the institution from operating losses to a balanced budget and creating a 75% earned-revenue business model.

She holds degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles – Bachelor of Arts; Pepperdine University – Master of Business Administration; the University of Southern California — Doctorate of Education and Harvard Business School – Executive Education Program. Linda is a passionate and experienced museum leader with an unparalleled track record of delivering exceptional science education, civic and community engagement, and operational excellence.

Dave Humphries | Chief Operating Officer

Dave Humphries joined the Perot Museum in October 2014 as Chief Information Officer, and in the winter of 2016 took on the interim role of Vice President of Revenue Operations. Through this interim position, Dave took on the additional responsibility of overseeing the revenue generating sectors for the institution. Because of his success and strong leadership while serving in both roles, a new position was created — Chief Operating Officer — that he has assumed. In this new position, he oversees all business operations, leads the systems and technology strategy, and evaluates and enhances the digital experience for our guests. Before joining the Museum, Dave served as Managing Director, IT, at the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation where he had responsibility for all information technology. Earlier in his career Dave spent 15 years at Fidelity Investments in multiple technology roles ranging from running support organizations to process design and implementation. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business from Indiana University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. He and his wife, Amy, reside in Flower Mound with their four children. 

Anne Woods | Chief Financial Officer
Anne Woods joined the Perot Museum as Chief Financial Officer in March 2019. Prior to joining the Perot Museum, Anne served as Chief Financial Officer at the Crow Museum of Asian Art, where she led the museum’s strategic financial initiatives which culminated in the gift acquisition of the Crow Museum by the University of Texas at Dallas. In the previous 12 years, Anne consulted with museums across the United States spanning a diversity of disciplines from guest experience to operations to new openings. Early in her career, Anne served as General Manager of DisneyQuest in Chicago and attributes her passion for guest service to this early training with the Walt Disney Company. Of her past experiences, Anne is most proud of her precious years as a stay-at-home mom raising and home-educating three lovely daughters.

Anne holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Katherine Stenesen | Chief Development Officer

Katherine Stenesen joined the Perot Museum as Chief Development Officer in January 2020.  Prior to joining the Perot Museum, Katherine served as the Chief Development Officer at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.  During her eight-year tenure at United Way, Katherine led the fundraising team and secured more than $60 million in annual commitments through corporate giving campaigns, community giving, and major gifts.  Additionally, she restructured the United Way Foundation’s 100 million Unite Forever campaign, propelling the growth of resources for the organization’s endowment. Prior to United Way, she spent nearly eight years at Southern Methodist University, where she rebuilt the donor relations program resulting in increased donor acquisition, retention, and giving levels.

Katherine has a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications from the University of Washington and a Master of Arts in Education from Seattle University.

Katherine and her husband, Drew, reside in East Dallas with their two daughters.

Jessica Chavez | Chief Learning Officer

Jessica Chavez joined the Perot Museum as Chief Learning Officer in January of 2021. She joins the Perot Museum from the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix. During her time serving in various roles at the Arizona Science Center, she helped lead the creation and implementation of CONNECT, a digital platform that integrates both outreach and formal educational programming to an online format for education and public users. Additionally, she launched the Science Teacher Residency Program (STaR) then expanded the program to a hybrid and completely virtual model to create access and equity for educators across the state of Arizona.

Jessica has worked in education ranging from early childhood to adult learning over the past 15 years. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in K-12 education and a Master of Arts in education technology with an emphasis on instructional design from Arizona State University. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University (completion in 2021). Her research is focused on informal learning support and its impact on the self-efficacy and job satisfaction of educators.

She and her husband will reside in Uptown Dallas and look forward to exploring North Texas and are expecting their first child this summer.

Art Ferrell | Vice President of Human Resources

Art Ferrell joined the Perot Museum as the Vice President of Human Resources in September 2020. Art brings to the Perot Museum over 20 years of Human Resources experience having served in significant roles in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors.  Prior to joining the Perot Museum, Art served as the Director, Employee Relations for Parkland Health and Hospital Systems where he directed the employee relations function for one of the largest public healthcare systems in the country.   

Art has held similar HR roles for Conifer Health Solutions; Comerica Bank and Texas Health Resources. Art also serves as an adjunct professor for the University of Dallas since 2003, where he helps prepare HR professionals taking their certifications examinations.

Art holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas. He has also earned his professional designations as both a Senior Professional in Human (SPHR) through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI); and the Society of Human Resource Management - Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certification through the Society for Human Resource Management.

Kraig Smith | Chief of Staff

Kraig Smith joined the Perot Museum in April 2019 as the Board Liaison and Executive Assistant to the CEO, and in the summer of 2020 assumed the role of Chief of Staff. Prior to joining the Perot, Kraig Smith spent 13 years in various positions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, most recently as Administrator for the world renowned Paper Conservation Department (where he likes to boast he held a Michelangelo in his hands), and prior to that as Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs where he supported the Sr. VP for External Affairs in multiple areas including press management, crisis response, and government affairs. Raised in Texas, Kraig relocated back to the North Dallas area with his wife, Myriam, and their two young sons.

Kraig holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from the University of Texas at Austin, and an M.A. in Screenwriting & Playwriting, also from UT Austin.