Stephen Montoya
Dr. Regina Faden, president of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
One could say that Regina Faden, The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History’s new president, was always destined to be a part of a museum community.o
After all, her parents, who were both educators, instilled in her the importance of research and culture from a young age. On the weekends, Faden, who originally grew up in Maryland, would trek with her family to museums, not just for fun, but to also learn more about the areas they were visiting. This was, in essence, her inspiration for earning her doctorate in American/United States Studies/Civilization from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis.
Before combating the mid-summer heat of North Texas just a few months back, Faden was the executive director of Historic St. Mary’s City, where she led research and interpretation for nearly 15 years. Several roles before that, Faden was also the executive director for the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri. A role she talks about with great pride. She was even an adjunct professor for several years teaching Sociology, American Women’s History, and Gender & Society at her alma mater.
Resume and academia aside, Faden says she can still remember the exact moment she realized what career path she was destined to take.
“I remember going to a museum with my mom in my mid-twenties while living in Massachusetts and looking at this Navajo Blanket,” she opined. “I didn't know a thing about it when I went in. And by the end [when] I came out, I knew what the materials were, who made them, what the symbols were, the colors ... all that kind of stuff. And so that's when I really thought about working in museums.”
Another experience she says shaped her life was her role as a teacher at a predominantly African American community college in Ferguson, Missouri.
“This was just me going into a community college where I’m the minority,” she says. “It was pretty much [adult] African American students and me. These are people with life experience; and then we talk about narrative, we read essays and discuss the material and their lives, which gave me a little window into someone else's experience. I would never claim to know what it's like to be a black person in America. But, to listen to some of their stories, I mean, the good and the bad; to live your life in a system that has largely been unjust for hundreds of years, it was eye opening to say the least.”
This was an experience, Faden says she took with her to the Mark Twain Museum several years later. She says she felt like she owed it to the community as a whole to listen to their stories and glean from their pasts.
“It makes you really take a good hard look at things we might take for granted. I came from a privileged background and I wanted to go and do what I felt I should, to make sure that everybody actually has the right opportunity,” Faden says. “Democracy is about equality of opportunity.”
Keeping true to this notion, Faden says she’s going to be taking cues about future museum exhibits from the diverse culture that makes up our fair city in her new role.
“As the president, or the leader, I want to help this organization move forward and thrive and be relevant to the community,” she says. “I don't do anything alone. It's all a group effort.”
This means getting involved with community advisory groups to understand what they are looking for in a museum experience.
Per her long-term goals, Faden wants to explore expanding the museum’s footprint to allow for new exhibit galleries, and activity space. Each year, the museum hosts tens of thousands of students through grant funding, which has been a bit tight with the museum’s limited square footage.
Another notion Faden says she would like to see come to fruition would be a permanent Fort Worth-centric exhibit, explaining to visitors far and wide the history of Cowtown.
“I think that's something that's of interest to the board and people coming to Fort Worth for the first time, that's how I travel. Like, where do I go to learn about this place?” she asked. “If you were to come here today, I don't think you're getting a full picture of Fort Worth. Science has always been well represented here, but I think the history portion could be beefed up that way.”
Other items Faden would like to see included under her watch are simple things like a covered space for all of the kids who attend the museum during field trips to have lunch, since the museum itself doesn’t boast many interior spaces.
“These are really practical things, but it really does affect the visitor's experience here. We want them to feel comfortable and happy with what they experience. So, I think there are ways just to think about some, physical needs, but then that also feeds into the new omni theater currently under construction.”
What Faden is referring to is the new Jane and John Justin Omni Theater, which is estimated to be completed by fall of next year. This $22 million renovation will feature a state-of-the-art 8K LED Digital Dome, a first of its kind inside of any museum in the world.
“I think museums are just a different type of learning environment,” she added. “They are like a visual library. And I am excited to add to the story of the museum now that I’m here.”
