Executive Director Halsey Spruance to step down after 17 years

Delaware Museum of Nature and Science Executive Director Halsey Spruance will step down in early 2025, wrapping up a transformative 17-year tenure.

The museum’s Board of Trustees has enlisted Canopy Strategic Partners to manage the search for the next Executive Director. Spruance will continue in his role until early next year or a successor is found. He will then transition to an advisory role through 2025, helping to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

To learn more about the position, visit Canopy’s website for a job profile and contact information, or download a PDF.

“Leading the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science has been the privilege of a lifetime. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together, from a major renovation to our ongoing commitment to environmental education and scientific collections. The museum is in a great place, and I’m excited to support the next leader as they guide us into the future.”

– Halsey Spruance

During his time at the museum, Halsey has been a driving force behind its growth and evolution. Under his leadership, the museum completed a $9.8 million capital campaign, culminating in a significant 17-month renovation that reimagined the exhibits and public spaces. As part of the renovations, completed in May 2022, the museum’s name changed from the Delaware Museum of Natural History to the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science. The museum welcomes nearly 90,000 visitors annually, with over 1 million guests visiting since he joined the organization.

“Halsey’s impact on the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science has been profound,” said Eda Ross Montgomery, Ph.D., President of the museum’s Board of Trustees. “His leadership has solidified the museum’s role as a community cornerstone and a leader in environmental education. We’re deeply grateful for his service, and we know his legacy will inspire us for years to come.”

He is the museum’s sixth executive director, the longest-serving since the museum opened to the public in 1972. He currently leads a team of 27 full-time and 36 part-time employees. Throughout his tenure, he collaborated with six different Board of Trustees presidents and contributed his expertise to numerous boards, including the Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway Advisory Board, Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau, Delaware Sea Grant Advisory Council, and others.

Long before joining DelMNS, Halsey’s passion for natural history was sparked by his grandfather, who gifted him a subscription to National Geographic magazine when he was just nine years old. A life-changing trip to Kenya followed, where he witnessed the migration of wildlife in the Great Rift Valley. These early experiences shaped his lifelong commitment to the natural world and led him to a career at the National Geographic Society. Before joining the then-Delaware Museum of Natural History, he was the Director of Public Relations at the Brandywine Conservancy from 1997 to 2007, where he championed environmental conservation and heritage preservation.