Archived Press Releases

Page Hayhurst named executive director of the Virginia Living Museum 
July 29, 2005 
 
Page Hayhurst, director of development at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) in Gloucester, has been named the new executive director of the Virginia Living Museum, Newport News.

Hayhurst has spent the past eight years at VIMS where she has been responsible for all external relations and fundraising for the institute, which is a division of The College of William and Mary. During her tenure, private funding increased from $2 million to $34 million and VIMS' private endowment grew from $1 million to $9 million.

Fred Farris, who has been serving as interim director, will return to the post of deputy director that he has held since 1999. Farris will continue to be in charge of museum exhibits, education and operations, while Hayhurst will concentrate on external relations and fund-raising.

"We have an outstanding staff and an outstanding museum and we are excited about Page joining to lead that group," said Board President William B. Downey in announcing the appointment Friday. "Page's background in development and government relations will be an asset as we continue to lead the museum forward."

"I am so excited about the position, I can't wait to get started," Hayhurst said. She will meet the museum staff on Monday, Aug. 1 and start work on Sept. 6. Hayhurst said she believes her connections within the scientific community and her strong revenue-producing and finance background will help the museum meet its fund-raising goals and put it on a strong financial footing for operations.

Over the next three years, the museum will seek to raise $10 million to complete its capital campaign and build its endowment, according to Downey.

In addition to fund-raising, Hayhurst created an advisory board of government and business leaders to help VIMS successfully lobby for substantial increases in federal and state support, supervised the Gift Shop and worked with the staff to create dynamic public programs such a Marine Science Mini-Schools, the Teaching Marsh, Marine Science Day and the VIMS Art Auction.

Hayhurst was the first full-time development professional at the Museum of Fine Arts in Roanoke and spent seven years working in development and alumni relations for the William and Mary Law School of Law before joining VIMS in 1997.

Hayhurst holds a bachelor's degree in art history and government from William and Mary and a master of humanities in museum studies from The University of Richmond and has taken postgraduate classes at William and Mary in museum studies. She lives in Williamsburg with her husband, William Kiniry. They have two sons, ages 9 and 11.

The museum is located between Williamsburg and Norfolk/Virginia Beach at 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News (I-64, exit 258-A).

For more information call 757-595-1900 or visit the web site at www.valivingmuseum.org.