Christine W. McEntee Selected as AGU Executive Director

Joint Release

Washington, D.C. — The American Geophysical Union announced today that Christine W. McEntee, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Institute of Architects, will be its new Executive Director. McEntee, a seasoned and highly accomplished association executive, will join AGU in late August 2010. She will succeed Robert Van Hook, Transition Management Consulting, who has served as Interim Executive Director since January 2009.

McEntee was chosen from a wide field of outstanding candidates following an extensive international search. She will be only the third Executive Director in AGU’s 90+ year history. She was selected for her record of transformative leadership, outstanding management and business skills, and public policy and outreach acumen. Another important factor was her enthusiasm for the Earth and space sciences, which grew with her leadership of AIA into the field of sustainability.

“Chris brings with her an appreciation and strong commitment to AGU’s scientific excellence in the Earth and space sciences,” said AGU President Tim Grove, Professor, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “Her collaborative approach to leadership is perfect for AGU at this time of mobilizing members to achieve their vision of AGU’s future. I can’t wait to begin working with her.”

For McEntee the opportunity at AGU continues a lifetime commitment to scientific achievement and advancement for the benefit of humanity. “I look forward to collaborating with the AGU leadership and scientific communities,” she said. “Together we’ll continue to advance excellence in the Earth and space sciences and position AGU as an authoritative and credible voice with policy makers, key stakeholders, and the media.”

Before assuming her current post at the American Institute of Architects, McEntee was Chief Executive Officer of the American College of Cardiology and its affiliated Foundation. Prior to that she was Executive Vice President of the American Hospital Association.

McEntee’s background in the life sciences includes a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Georgetown University and a master’s degree in Health Administration from George Washington University. She is also a graduate of the Advanced Executive Program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She is a Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives and was recently named a top honoree by the Euro-American Women’s Council.

“I am really pleased that the hard, thoughtful work of the search committee resulted in such a high caliber association executive as Chris,” said AGU General Secretary and search committee chair Carol Finn, Research Geophysicist, U.S. Geological Survey. “Her passion for the environment, extensive experience, creativity, and collaborative leadership style are critical for this time of transition at AGU. We are very excited to work with Chris as AGU enters its next era as a leader in the Earth and space sciences.”