Stephen Montoya
One could say that Regina Faden, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History’s new president, was destined to be a part of a museum community.
After all, her parents, who were both educators, instilled in her the importance of research and culture from a young age. On the weekends, Faden, who grew up in Maryland, would trek with her family to museums, not just for fun, but to also learn more about the areas they were visiting. This was, in essence, her inspiration for earning her doctorate in American/United States Studies/Civilization from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis.
Before taking over her new job in the mid-summer heat of North Texas just a few months back, Faden was the executive director of Historic St. Mary’s City, where she led research and interpretation for nearly 15 years.
Several roles before that, Faden was also the executive director for the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri. That's a role she talks about with great pride. She also was an adjunct professor for several years teaching sociology, American women’s history, and gender & society at St. Mary's College of Maryland. She also taught at St. Louis Community College.
Résumé and academic qualifications aside, Faden says she can still remember the exact moment she realized what path her career was destined to take.
“I remember going to a museum with my mom in my mid-20s while living in Massachusetts and looking at this Navajo blanket,” she said. “I didn't know a thing about it when I went in. And by the end when I came out, I knew what the materials were, who made them, what the symbols were, the colors ... all that kind of stuff. And so that's when I really thought about working in museums.”
The Fort Worth Children’s Museum opened in 1945 in two rooms in De Zavala Elementary School. It opened its own museum off of Montgomery Street in the Cultural District, where it sits today, in 1954. Museum officials in 1968 changed the name to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. An expansion and renovation began in 2006.
Two additions over the years made it a destination. The Charlie Mary Noble Planetarium, the first planetarium in the region, opened in 1955. The Omni Theater, which opened in 1983, was the first IMAX dome theater in the Southwest and, according to the museum, soon became one of the most successful in the world.
Faden says she’s going to be taking cues about future museum exhibits from the diverse culture that makes up the city. She said she often draws on her experience working with diverse populations, such as teaching at St. Louis Community College in Ferguson, Missouri, and its predominantly African American enrollment.
“As the president, or the leader, I want to help this organization move forward and thrive and be relevant to the community,” she said. “I don't do anything alone. It's all a group effort.”
This means getting involved with community advisory groups to understand what they are looking for in a museum experience.
As for her long-term goals, Faden wants to explore expanding the museum’s footprint to allow for new exhibit galleries, and activity space. Each year, the museum hosts tens of thousands of students through grant funding.
Faden said she would also like to see a permanent Fort Worth-centric exhibit that would explain to visitors far and wide the history of Cowtown.
“I think that's something that's of interest to the board and people coming to Fort Worth for the first time. That’s how I travel. Like, where do I go to learn about this place?” she said. “If you were to come here today, I don't think you're getting a full picture of Fort Worth. Science has always been well represented here, but I think the history portion could be beefed up that way.”
Other items Faden would like to see included under her leadership are simpler things like a covered space for all of the kids who attend the museum during field trips to have lunch. The museum itself doesn’t boast many interior spaces.
“These are really practical things, but it really does affect the visitor's experience here. We want them to feel comfortable and happy with what they experience. So, I think there are ways just to think about some, physical needs, but then that also feeds into the new omni theater currently under construction.”
What Faden is referring to is the new Jane and John Justin Omni Theater, which is estimated to be completed by fall of next year. This $22 million renovation will feature a state-of-the-art 8K LED Digital Dome, a first of its kind inside of any museum in the world.
“I think museums are just a different type of learning environment,” she added. “They are like a visual library. And I am excited to add to the story of the museum now that I’m here.”