In July, James Murray, 43, of Lake Bluff, became chair of the Chicago Academy of Sciences/Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. I’m a partner at PJT Partners, a spinoff of Blackstone Group. I’ve spent my career as a strategy consultant and investment banker working with technology, media and telecommunication industries.
Q. How did you first get involved with the Chicago Academy of Sciences?
A. I relocated from New York to Chicago during the winter of 2008-2009 and was introduced to a number of members of the board of directors by one of my partners. At the time I was working for Morgan Stanley. I joined the board on a permanent basis soon after we moved to Chicago.
Q. Are you interested in science? In nature?
A. My wife Kate and I are strong believers in science education for schoolchildren. We believe early childhood education in science among nature and the environment promotes general intellectual curiosity and a sense of stewardship for the environment.
Q. What are your responsibilities as chair of the board of trustees?
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A. To assist and advise museum president Deborah Lahey as she works to operate the museum. To make sure the museum and the team have the financial resources they need to operate and grow.
Q. What do most people not know about the Chicago Academy of Sciences/Peggy Notebaert Museum?
A. It surprises people sometimes that we are actually Chicago’s oldest museum. We have our 160th anniversary this year.
Q. What’s new at the Notebaert Museum?
A. We have worked hard to encourage a conversation about climate change. Our summer camps have become very popular. Our citizen-science program has gotten a lot of attention.
Q. Goals?
A. We’re looking forward to new programs and expanding the number of students we reach.
Q. Is that challenging?
A. The principal challenge is growing the resources of the museum and academy so we can support those outreach programs.
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