By Matt Micucci
The American Jazz Museum’s board of directors on Thursday announced that Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner will be the museum’s next executive director. She replaces Greg Carroll, who resigned without explanation last July after eight years on the job. Ralph Reid, a former Sprint executive, was appointed interim director the following month.
Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner, deputy director of strategic services at the Kansas City Public Library, will become executive director of the city-owned museum in March.
A native of Kenya, Kositany-Buckner moved to the United States in 1983 to attend Central Missouri State University. She earned a degree in computer information systems and re-located to Kansas City in 1988.
During her 25 year tenure at the library, she developed innovative programming, such as a software lending library, and worked to establish the library as a place for civic engagement. Her experience will most likely help address the issues the almost 20-year-old museum’s criticism on its exhibitions not being nearly as interactive as those of other facilities.
Kositany-Buckner said visitors will notice changes soon after she takes the job, such as more temporary exhibits to give visitors more reasons to make return trips. Meanwhile, The Kansas City Council is considering a proposal that would pump $18 million in public funds into the jazz district, including $1.3 million for the jazz museum.
For more information on the American Jazz Museum, visit their website http://americanjazzmuseum.org/