NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tamara Krizek, tamara.krizek@davincisciencecenter.org
ALLENTOWN, PA, June 17, 2025 – Lin Erickson, Executive Director and CEO of Da Vinci Science Center, has announced her plans to retire in June 2026 after more than 20 years of visionary leadership that shaped the Science Center into a regional hub for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education.
To ensure a smooth leadership transition, the Da Vinci Science Center Board of Trustees will assemble a Search Committee this summer to identify the Science Center’s next CEO. The Board anticipates announcing Erickson’s successor in the spring of 2026.
Erickson has been instrumental in every stage of the Science Center’s evolution. She first served as Executive Director from 1997 to 2005, leading its spin-off from Lehigh University in 1999, its merger with Leonardo da Vinci’s Horse in 2003, and the construction of a new facility at Cedar Crest College in 2004. Since returning as CEO in 2013, she has spearheaded the planning and successful launch of the Science Center’s most ambitious project yet: the $75 million Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion in downtown Allentown, which opened on May 22, 2024.
“Leading Da Vinci Science Center has been the dream of a lifetime,” said Erickson. “I am proud of what we’ve built together — a place where people of all ages and backgrounds can explore science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math in a meaningful way. Now it’s time to turn the reins over to the next generation and begin the next chapter of my life, with more time to travel and be with family.”
During her tenure, Erickson championed partnerships that expanded the Science Center’s regional impact, including a groundbreaking collaboration with the Allentown School District that provides immersive STREAM (science, technology, reading, engineering, art, and mathematics) experiences to students and teachers at the new downtown facility. She also led efforts to break down barriers to STEAM careers for underrepresented groups through initiatives like Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), launched in 2015.
Her achievements have been widely recognized, including honors from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania (2021 Take the Lead Award), Lehigh Valley Business (2020 Women of Influence Circle of Excellence, 2023 ICON Leadership Award), and selection to the 2025 Lehigh Valley Business Power 100 list.
“Lin’s impact on this organization and our community cannot be overstated,” said Dan Bosket, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “She has laid a strong foundation for the future, and we are confident that the next leader will build upon her extraordinary legacy.”
Erickson’s career spans over 40 years in education, fundraising, and nonprofit leadership, with more than $135 million raised for STEAM and educational initiatives. She holds degrees from Smith College, Lehigh University, and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
For more information about the science center and future updates on the CEO search, visit davincisciencecenter.org.
About Da Vinci Science Center
Da Vinci Science Center is a national award-winning non-profit science center that has been bringing science to life and lives to science for 30 years. With our exciting new downtown Allentown location, Da Vinci Science Center experiences make science fun and approachable, helping to connect people of all ages and backgrounds with the wonders of science. To learn more about our programs, visit davincisciencecenter.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
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