I am interested in the definitions of two job titles that seem to be making
the rounds in the museum world - President and CEO. In the last five to ten
years these have become common at aquaria, science museums and art museums,
but as yet very few history museums seem to have embraced the terms. When I
first entered the field back in the '70s the only Presidents (outside of
Boards of Trustees)I can remember were at academic institutions (president
of "X" university) and I never remember seeing the term CEO applied to a
museum or educational institution - only business corporations.
 
I would be interested in the definitions of "President" and "CEO" as
opposed to "Director" or "Executive Director." The former seem to be
borrowed from the business world, perhaps as a convenience to board members
from the business world? What place they have in an educational institution
is not clear to me. I am in hopes that their use does not foreshadow the
trend to institutions converting to wholly "earned income" operating
budgets like General Motors and IBM.
 
Anyway, I would be curious as to what separates an Executive Director from
a President or CEO.
 
------------------------
Byron A. Johnson, an Old Fashioned Exec. Dir.
Tampa Bay History Center
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