Chevy Humphrey, DBA

Director

Chevy Humphrey, DBA, has been at the helm of the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (Griffin MSI) as President and CEO since January 2021. Each year, under her stewardship, over 1.5 million visitors embark on journeys of discovery through innovative exhibitions, programs, and experiences designed to "inspire the inventive genius in everyone."

Dr. Humphrey’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility have transformed the Museum into a welcoming space where students, visitors, and communities can connect with science in meaningful ways. Her mission is to foster a lifelong relationship with science and discovery, ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, can engage with and appreciate the wonders of science.

Driven by a passion for education and community engagement, Chevy is building a robust foundation for the Museum's future. Her efforts ensure that the Griffin MSI remains a cornerstone of scientific learning and inspiration, empowering generations to come with the tools and curiosity to explore, innovate, and thrive.

Dr. Humphrey is a global authority in the field of informal science education, renowned for her transformative leadership and unwavering dedication to fostering scientific curiosity and discovery. Prior to her tenure at Griffin MSI, she served for 15 years as CEO of Arizona Science Center, where she revolutionized science education and outreach and was the first Black American to lead a science center in the US.

As the Past Chair of the Board of the American Alliance of Museums, the world’s largest museum association, serving 35,000 members, Dr. Humphrey played a pivotal role in shaping the future of museums worldwide. She also served as the Past Chair of the Board of the Association of Science and Technology Centers, which supports over 500 science centers in more than 50 countries. Additionally, she chaired of the Selection and Annual Review Committee for the National Science Foundation’s Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE-Net), the largest informal science initiative at the time.

Dr. Humphrey’s extensive board service includes her current role on the Board of Governors for Argonne National Laboratory, a premier science and engineering research national laboratory operated by U-Chicago Argonne LLC for the United States Department of Energy. She also serves on the boards of the Civic Committee and the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Economic Club of Chicago, Choose Chicago, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute, Helios Education Foundation, Education Forward Arizona, and the Advisory Board for After School Matters and the Leadership Council for The Chicago Public Education Fund. She is Director and Chair of the Compensation Committee for Grand Canyon Education, Inc., a $4.3B market cap education services company that provides a full array of services in the post-secondary education market (NASDAQ: LOPE).

A compassionate and visionary business leader, Dr. Humphrey has received numerous accolades, including being named a Visionary Leader by the Women’s National Basketball Association and one of the Most Admired CEOs by the Phoenix Business Journal. She was the inaugural recipient of their Mentor of the Year award in 2017. Her other prestigious awards include the ATHENA award from the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Forbes’ 2024 50 over 50 list, Crain’s Chicago Business’s 2023 Notable Women in STEM list, and its 2023 Who’s Who list. She is also a recipient of Girls Inc. Chicago’s 2023 Strong Smart Bold award and the Illinois Black Chamber, Cook County Black Chamber, and Garfield Park Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Business Leader of the Year award.

Originally from Houston, Texas, Dr. Humphrey holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Grand Canyon University and an honorary Doctor of Science and Technology degree from the University of Advancing Technology. She earned a Master of Business Administration with specializations in innovation, entrepreneurship, and marketing from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Science in Business with a concentration in Marketing from the University of Phoenix. Her executive education includes certifications from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University Graduate School of Business, and Yale School of Management.