NEW ORLEANS – January 30, 2007: The National World War II Museum has appointed a prestigious group of 17 professional historians and museum executives to serve as an education advisory board to President & CEO, Dr. Gordon “Nick” Mueller, as well as the Museum’s senior staff and trustees. The group met for the first time in November on the closing day of the Museum’s highly successful International Conference on World War II.The group, called the Presidential Counselors, will advise on a broad range of research, education, film and programming issues and opportunities related to the strategic advancement of the Museum’s mission and outreach to regional, national and international audiences.
“With a multi-year, $300 million expansion of The National World War II Museum underway, it will be a great benefit to the Museum to have the participation of this notable group of scholars and museum executives,” said Mueller. “Just like Eisenhower relied on the advice of his best generals, we look forward to the good counsel of this group as the Museum continues to grow.”
The group will meet a minimum of once a year in person but will communicate year-round via teleconferences and email.
Presidential Counselors -
Rick Atkinson Pulitzer Prize winning author and journalistWashington, D.C.
Dr. Guenter BischofChairman, Department of History, University of New OrleansNew Orleans, LA
Lonnie G. Bunch Director, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian InstituteWashington, D.C.
Dr. Conrad C. Crane Director, U.S. Army Military History InstituteCarlisle, PA
Col. William J. Davis (Ret.)Executive Director, General Douglas MacArthur Foundation and MacArthur MemorialNorfolk, VA
Dr. Michael Devine Director, Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and MuseumIndependence, MO
Dr. Paul H. Hebert Executive Director, Cantigny First Division FoundationWheaton, IL
Dr. Daniel D. Holt Director, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and MuseumAbilene, KS
Dr. Cynthia M. Koch Director, Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and MuseumHyde Park, NY
Dr. Geoffrey Megargee Applied Research Scholar, Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies, United States Holocaust Memorial MuseumWashington, D.C.
Dr. Donald L. MillerJohn Henry MacCraken Professor of History, Lafayette CollegeEaston, PA
Dr. Allan R. MillettDirector, University of New Orleans Eisenhower Center for American StudiesNew Orleans, LA
Dr. Mark P. ParilloDirector, Institute for Military History and 20th Century Studies, Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KS
Dr. Julian M. PleasantsDirector, Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, University of FloridaGainesville, FL
Dr. Maggie Rivas-RodriguezAssociate Professor and Project Director, U.S. Latino and Latina WWII Oral History Project, University of TexasAustin, TX
Dr. Edward C. TracyExecutive Director, The Tawani Foundation and Pritzker Military LibraryChicago, IL
Dr. Gerhard WeinbergProfessor Emeritus of History, University of North CarolinaEfland, NC
Dr. Richard H. ZeitlinDirector, Wisconsin Veterans MuseumMadison, WI
The National World War II Museum, dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum, has been designated by Congress as the country’s official National World War II Museum. The Museum illuminates the American experience during the war era and celebrates the American spirit, the teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifice of the men and women who won World War II. The National WWII Museum recently completed the first phase of a $300 million expansion that, when complete, will create a six-acre campus of exhibition and campaign pavilions, an advanced format 4-D theater, USO venue, and a research and conference center in downtown New Orleans.
For more information on programs and exhibits at the National World War II Museum, visit www.nationalww2museum.org or call 504-527-6012.