Bill Dries | Daily Memphian
The Memphis Museums of Science and History has a new interim leader after the resignation of Kevin Thompson, effective at the end of 2025.
Jeff King, who is chief operating officer of the set of museums operated by the City of Memphis’ parks division and the nonprofit Memphis Museums Inc., was named interim executive director by the MoSH board, according to a Monday, Feb. 9, announcement.
King has been COO since 2021. He came to the post from a 10-year stint with the Denver Art Museum. Thompson had been executive director of MoSH since 2020. The set of museums includes the Pink Palace Museum & Mansion, Lichterman Nature Center, Mallory-Neely Historic Property and Coon Creek Science Center in Adamsville, Tennessee. The board has hired Museum Search & Reference, a firm specializing in museum positions, to assist with a national search. Also included in Monday’s release was the announcement of new policies and pricing.
MoSH is now including admission to the AutoZone Dome at Sharpe Planetarium with a full-priced Pink Palace exhibit ticket during daily operating hours.
The Pink Palace also begins a monthly series of “Free Third Tuesday” general admissions with $5 each for programming at the Giant Screen Theater, AutoZone Dome and the current FOOD traveling exhibit starting Feb. 19.
MoSH has also hired Aubri Zogg as the full-time Animal and Programs Supervisor at Lichterman Nature Center. Zogg comes to Memphis from being senior hospital zoologist at the Dallas Zoo.