Brooklyn Museum appoints Kimberly Panicek Trueblood as new president and COO

December 8, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

Kimberly Panicek Trueblood. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Museum

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The Brooklyn Museum has appointed Kimberly Panicek (KP) Trueblood as its new president and chief operating officer. She follows David Berliner, who has served as president and COO since 2016 and as a member of the Board of Trustees since 2011.

Trueblood brings extensive experience in public service and in leading mission-driven organizations, having previously served as chief of staff at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and as director of White House operations for the Obama Administration. She is slated to begin her role with the museum in 2022.

Trueblood has focused her career on developing the institutional structure and management needed for organizations to meet their goals and live up to their values.

During her time as chief of staff at the ACLU, Trueblood shaped the nonprofit’s strategic plans and policy initiatives, as well as reorganized the operations and fundraising infrastructure. She was instrumental in integrating the ACLU’s advocacy and litigation programs and in launching the organization’s first-ever analytics department.

She has been a key figure behind the scenes in structuring the ACLU’s resources, time and strategy around its mission—in part by launching the ACLU’s first-ever analytics department and spearheading efforts to foster a data-driven culture.

“From a very young age I dreamed of leading a cultural institution, not only for my love of the arts but for the power of the arts to enact social change,” says Trueblood. “I have seen firsthand how important the Brooklyn Museum is to the local community that it serves, as well as its impact on global audiences and the museum field at large. As president and COO, I hope to build on all that the museum has accomplished and lead new opportunities for growth as we continue to invest in social impact and define what it means to be a museum in the 21st century.”

Trueblood has dedicated her life to public service—both at nonprofits such as the ACLU and in government. In addition to her positions with the ACLU and the Obama administration, she served in the U.S. Air Force, worked for U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and joined the Department of the Treasury in its inaugural class of Hamilton Fellows. She also served as deputy CFO and budget director for Hillary for America.

Trueblood is a graduate of the University of Washington, Seattle, where she studied political science, and earned her masters of public affairs from Sciences Po, Paris, France.

“KP’s appointment comes at a moment of incredible growth for the Brooklyn Museum, and her exceptional leadership experience in social action–oriented organizations will contribute greatly to strengthening our mission and reach,” says Anne Pasternak, Shelby White and Leon Levy director of the museum. “I have been blessed to have a great partner in David Berliner, who helped lead the museum through tremendous change— from doubling audiences to greatly expanding earned revenue—and I am excited to build a new partnership with KP that is just as impactful.”

As president and COO, Trueblood will work closely with Pasternak and the Brooklyn Museum’s Board of Trustees and staff to set strategic goals for sustainability and growth as the museum serves ever-larger and more diverse audiences and fulfills its mission as an agent of social change. She will also support the museum’s long-term plans for expanding the impact of its mission, including participating in the institution’s strategic vision and aligning the museum’s resources with its values and priorities.

Berliner commented that “KP will bring new expertise and skills to the museum that will help shape its future and continue its trailblazing role at the center of culture, community, and civic engagement. I am excited to see all that she will accomplish for the institution alongside Anne and our incredible team.”