Heather Ingram, Museum Director of the Coit Museum of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Meet Heather Ingram, the newly appointed Museum Director at the Coit Museum of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. With over two decades of experience in museum leadership, community engagement, and educational programming, she aims to advance the museum's vision of creating an authentic and engaging experience that broadens perspectives about pharmacy and health sciences for everyone. 

Relying on the interdisciplinary experience from her time at the Arizona State Museum, the BIO5 Institute, the Arizona History Museum, and the Center for Creative Photography, she uses a unique perspective and insight to guide her in this new role. With a deep commitment to advancing museum education, Ingram is dedicated to showcasing the Coit Museum as a center for public education, interpretation, and history. She is excited to bring her experience, passion, and vision to the Coit Museum, shaping its future as a dynamic resource for learning and discovery in pharmacy and health sciences.

What excited you most about this position?

• Museums are spaces where everyone can engage with objects, people, and perspectives outside their everyday lives. As the Director of Coit Museum, I am honored to be in a position where I can facilitate those experiences for others. 

What is your favorite part of the Museum so far?

• Two things stand out as highlights from my first two weeks here in this position. First, I have received incredible support thus far. My wonderful colleagues at the College of Pharmacy are quick to lend a hand and share institutional knowledge and those in the U of A museum community have been incredibly generous with their time and expertise. Further, I am fortunate to have the support of Dean Schnellmann and an engaged advisory board. 

  Second, this position is the perfect balance of creativity and project management, allowing me to pull from my experience working in both museums and science education. Right now, I am focused on learning about the museum’s rich collections and history and working to reorganize and streamline processes to create a strong moving forward.

What is your vision for the visitor experience at the Museum?

• As museum audiences change it becomes increasingly important to seek innovative and inclusive ways for the Coit Museum to grow and yet, retain the elements that make it great. We do that by listening and responding to our community, embracing new partnerships, developing relevant temporary exhibits, and increasing our outreach and programming.    
   

Learn more about the museum on the Coit Museum website.