Board appoints Rayanne Darensbourg as Chief Executive Officer
Children’s Museum Houston Board of Directors appoints Rayanne Darensbourg as the Museum’s new CEO. Darensbourg brings more than 20 years of experience in the non-profit and education sectors to her new role, including her most recent position as Chief Operating Officer of the Neuhaus Education Center. She succeeds Executive Director Tammie Kahn who will retire at the end of the month after 28 years of service.
“I am thrilled to serve as CEO of Children’s Museum Houston. The Children’s Museum opens a world of opportunity and experiences, which can be a great equalizer for many children and families in Houston. I look forward to building on the success of the Children’s Museum to inspire new generations of parents and children. Our ability to remain innovative and forever curious about how best children learn through exploration and creativity means we are part of the solution to some of our greatest challenges in Houston today,” said Darensbourg.
Darensbourg, who is a Pearland resident, shares a rich and diverse background as do many Houstonians. She’s a mother, an immigrant, and a first-generation college graduate. In 1980, her family migrated from Guyana to New Orleans where she grew up and received a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of New Orleans. She received her Master’s in Public Administration from Old Dominion University, a Certificate in Legislative Studies from Georgetown University and is a Senior Fellow of American Leadership Forum, Community Development Class 1.
Darensbourg earned her professional experience as a special education teacher, and has managed and implemented programming for the Administration for Children and Families under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Children’s Cabinet under the Office of the Governor of the State of Louisiana. She and her husband moved to Houston in 2007 where she has served as Director of Development of the American Leadership Forum and the Director of Programs and Interim Executive Director of the Houston YWCA. She will become the Museum’s first CEO of color and is strongly committed to furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels of the organization and delivering on the Museum’s mission to transform communities through innovative, child-centered learning that improves the trajectories of all children.
“We are excited to have Rayanne join us as the next leader of Children’s Museum Houston,” said Children’s Museum Houston Board President Jason Endecott. “Her long-term commitment to children, education and community will ensure that the Museum continues to be a leader in serving Houston’s children and families. She also has a passion for working with strong teams and community partners which will be essential as we embark on our next five-year strategic plan.”