The National Center for Civil and Human Rights (NCCHR), the nation’s first institution to present the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement in the context of contemporary human rights issues, recently named Terrie S. Rouse as Chief Operating Officer.
She is a seasoned museum and nonprofit executive, who has provided expertise in strategic planning on an international scale, including her first time working in Atlanta several years ago as executive director of the Atlanta Ballet.
“We are very lucky to have such an experienced museum professional joining the team,” said Doug Shipman, CEO of the NCCHR. “Her background and expertise in nonprofit operations and strategy will be a great asset as we evolve into a leading educational resource and tourist destination in Atlanta.
“The world of museums and cultural institutions is very specialized,” said Rouse. “I’m so thrilled to return to Atlanta to join an institution that is helping the community to connect to and deeply explore not just our past history, but also modern-‐day issues taking place around the world.”
Rouse has 31 years of experience as a non-‐profit, government and museum management executive and serves as a Museum Accreditation Commissioner. She is the Founding and Former CEO of the United States Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) for Visitor Services where she was appointed in September of 2007. On December 2, 2008, she successfully opened the 585,000 square foot underground facility with 250 employees establishing it as a new Washington, DC destination.
Under her leadership, the CVC attracted 2,300,000 visitors within the first 12 months. While with the CVC Rouse led the development of educational activities, established new volunteer programs, and garnered partnerships with regional and national institutions vested in educational activities.
Rouse also served as Executive Vice President/Director of Museums for Kansas City’s (Mo.) 900,000 square foot Union Station, a historic landmark. During her tenure, she managed two museum directors that encompass Science City, the Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall, The City Extreme Screen, Planetarium, exhibitions within Union Station, as well as its permanent collections.
In addition to Kansas City and the Atlanta Ballet, Rouse served as President and CEO of the African American Museum in Philadelphia; was the first Senior Curator for the Studio Museum in Harlem; Director of the New York Transit Museum; and worked as Executive Director at the Children’s Museum of Maine.
She received an M.A. in African History and a certificate from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. She also received a MPS in Africana Studies from Cornell University. She completed her BA in Intercultural Studies at Trinity College-‐Hartford in Hartford Connecticut.
The Center thanks Veronica Biggins and her team at Diversified Search for their support and help throughout the COO selection process. The NCCHR is under construction near Centennial Olympic Park net to the World of Coca-Cola and across from the Georgia Aquarium. It is scheduled to open in the spring of 2014.
The Center will be the only public place in the world displaying the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection (King Papers). Visitors will be immersed in an interactive story-‐telling experience in each exhibit. The facilities will also serve as a hub for ongoing dialogue — attracting world-‐renowned speakers and artists well-‐informed on a variety of civil and human rights topics. For more information, visit www.civilandhumanrights.org
