Roanoke Native To Head Science Museum

The Science Museum of Western Virginia has named Jim Rollings (right) executive director. Rollings was most recently with Heifer Village in Arkansas.

A Roanoke native, Rollings has experience in museum leadership, including positions with the Yorktown Victory Center, NASA Langley Visitor Center and the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News. He served 10 years as the director of the South Florida Science Museum and two years with the Gulfcoast Wonder and Imagination Zone before moving to Arkansas.

He has a master’s degree in nonprofit administration from Regis University in Denver, and a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Christopher Newport University.

Rollings is married and has three children. “I am delighted to be back in Roanoke because I was born here," he said, "and it’s exciting to be part of the Reinvention of the Science Museum. I have been impressed with the commitment of the Board of
Trustees and the direction for the museum and look forward to being part of the future of the Science Museum.”