Bronx Children’s Museum has new exec director

Denise Rosario Adusei, founder of a city preschool, has replaced longtime executive director of the Bronx Children’s Museum Carla Precht, the museum board and president Arlene Lewis Bascom announced March 6.

An experienced social entrepreneur, author and early childhood leader, Adusei succeeds Precht who stepped down after 13 years during which time she successfully launched the first-ever children’s museum facility in the Bronx.

The children’s museum’s permanent home opened to the public in December 2022. Prior to that the museum “without walls” provided more than a decade of quality outreach enrichment programs throughout the borough.

Adusei is the founder of Peartree Preschool, an arts-focused educational program in Harlem. Over the past 12 years, she successfully launched the school, graduated 1,500 children into New York City elementary schools and helped families secure more than $8 million in tuition relief for private competitive programs.

In addition to being a children’s book author, Adusei co-founded Latinx Pitch and Black Creators HQ, two artist-development organizations focused on increasing diverse representation in children’s books.

“My immigrant mother taught me that ‘As we climb, we lift.’ It only made sense that I share my experience with other aspiring children’s book authors by helping them navigate the publishing industry,” Adusei said.

Having previously worked in nonprofit management consulting for Community Resource Exchange and the city’s commissioner’s department of mental hygiene, Adusei brings with her extensive community partnerships and organizational development experience.

“We are delighted to have Denise take the helm of Bronx Children’s Museum,” said Precht.  “As an experienced early childhood education and community leader, Denise’s visionary and inclusive approach to children’s education and arts makes her a perfect choice to carry the vision of the Museum forward. I have no doubt that under her leadership the museum will grow and flourish as an incubator for dreams and imagination.”

Adusei holds a masters of business administration from Columbia Business School and bachelor of arts from Brown University.

Bronx Children’s Museum’s new facility is located at 725 Exterior St. along the Harlem River.

Museum wins AIANY award

The Bronx Children’s Museum in the South Bronx has received a citation from the American Institute of Architecture for the innovative use of curved cross-laminated timber panels in its new facility, city design and construction department commissioner Thomas Foley announced recently.

“Through our Project Excellence program, DDC has been able to work with the nation’s best design firms as well as small and emerging firms to create beautiful new spaces like the Children’s Museum, as well as new libraries, cultural centers, firehouses and other public buildings,” Foley said. “This innovative design encourages fluid movement and uses innovative construction techniques and materials to give the Bronx and all New Yorkers the children’s museum it deserves.”

The design of the new Museum was completed by O’Neill McVoy Architects under the excellence program, which pre-qualifies firms to provide design services for New York City public buildings projects.

It is supposed to reduce the time required to procure design services while ensuring the highest levels of quality and professionalism.