LOS ANGELES — Norman Y. Mineta, chair of the board of trustees of the Japanese American National Museum, announced June 8 that Ann Burroughs has been named interim president and CEO of the museum, effective immediately. For the remainder of his tenure — through the month of June — Greg Kimura, the outgoing president and CEO, will provide consultation and share institutional knowledge to ensure a smooth transition at the executive level.
Burroughs brings more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and management, resource development, strategic planning and strategic communications. She has worked at the executive director level, as an interim director, as a member of senior management teams, as a nonprofit consultant and as an executive coach.
She also has deep experience working with organizations in transition and with diverse communities in the U.S., as well as multiple countries abroad. Burroughs is currently chair of the board of directors of Amnesty International USA and has served on several other boards.
“I’m very pleased to welcome Ann to the Japanese American National Museum. She brings a wealth of relevant leadership experience as well as a lifelong commitment to advocating for human rights and working to make a more just and equitable world. That commitment aligns in a very meaningful way with the mission of the museum,” said Mineta. “I’m confident that Ann will provide the guidance and direction that will allow the staff and volunteers of JANM to continue their important work in an effective manner while I continue to work with a search committee to identify a new permanent president and CEO.”
Mineta and other members of the board of trustees worked with the Center for Nonprofit Management to identify qualified candidates and ultimately bring Burroughs onboard at JANM.
“The mission and values of the Japanese American National Museum resonate deeply with my own lifelong commitment to protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms,” Burroughs said. “It’s an honor to be joining the team as interim president and CEO, and I look forward to working closely with the board, staff and volunteers in the coming months of transition.”
Burroughs’ work with Amnesty International USA is particularly meaningful to her because as a young activist in her native South Africa, she was imprisoned as a result of her anti-apartheid activism, and Amnesty International helped to secure her release. These experiences will help inform her work as the interim president and CEO at JANM.
Most recently, Burroughs served as senior consultant at Social Sector Partners, an organization that focuses on supporting social sector organizations through strategic adaptation and repositioning. She has previously served as executive director of the Taproot Foundation in Los Angeles and as the executive director of LA Works. Burroughs also has been as a consultant to the Rockefeller Foundation in its Communications for Social Change Initiative, the HandsOn Network in its corporate engagement program and the government of South Africa.
