Interim executive director appointed at Virginia Museum of Natural History

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (January 14, 2009) – With the recent resignation of Timothy J. Gette as executive director of the Virginia Museum of Natural History, the Executive Committee of the VMNH Trustees has named Gloria Niblett as interim executive director. Gette’s last day at VMNH is February 4, 2009.

A native of Martinsville, Virginia, Niblett currently serves as director of administration and services at VMNH, and has been employed at the museum for 20 years. Her current position involves responsibility for administering daily museum operations, including management of fiscal, purchasing, human resources, budgeting and planning, contracting, security and building operations.

Niblett graduated from Averett University, magna cum laude, with associate’s degrees in accounting and business management, and a bachelor's degree in business administration. She is also a graduate of the Virginia Executive Institute, and is certified as a Virginia Contracting Officer, a Virginia Construction Contracting Officer, and a Professional Public Buyer. Niblett also graduated from the Virginia Risk Control Institute.

Niblett previously served as procurement manager at VMNH and accounting manager at National Homes Corporation in Martinsville, Virginia. Niblett is a member of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing and the Virginia Governmental Purchasing Association. She has served on the membership committee of the Virginia Governmental Purchasing Association for 11 years.

“I am honored to step up to this duty as interim director during this transition period,” Niblett said. “With support from a professional and dynamic staff, we as a team can accomplish the task.”

“Gloria Niblett’s education and 20 years of experience with the museum made her the obvious choice to fill the interim director position,” said Pamela A. Armstrong, chairman of the VMNH Board of Trustees. “She has worked hand-in-hand with Tim Gette and Secretary of Natural Resources Preston Bryant, making the daily decisions and planning that have contributed to the museum’s success. She is a native of Martinsville and we are fortunate to have someone of her caliber accept this temporary position as we work through the process of hiring a new VMNH executive director.”

“I am very pleased that Gloria Niblett has been appointed by the VMNH Executive Committee and that she has agreed to serve as interim executive director of the Virginia Museum of Natural History,” said Timothy J. Gette, executive director of the Virginia Museum of Natural History. “Gloria has been an invaluable asset to me during my five years at VMNH and she is an exceptionally talented individual. VMNH is fortunate to have someone like her on staff to step in while the board completes its search.”

Niblett’s appointment by the Executive Committee of the VMNH Board of Trustees will be presented for confirmation by the full VMNH Board of Trustees at the group’s February meeting.