Museum of Discovery taps Bass as next CEO

Kelley Bass was named the next chief executive officer of Little Rock's Museum of Discovery on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012.
Kelley Bass was named the next chief executive officer of Little Rock's Museum of Discovery on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012.

— The Museum of Discovery has named an assistant dean at UALR as its new chief executive officer.

Kelley Bass will succeed Nan Selz, the museum's executive director who is retiring at the end of the year.

Bass since 2008 has been the assistant dean for external affairs in UALR's Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology. He has served on the museum's board for nearly three years.

Bass, formerly a communications executive with Acxiom and a journalist with the Arkansas Gazette and Arkansas Times, said he is focused on increasing the museum's visibility and its role in STEM education.

"It's not a formal school, but it's still a very important institution to energize kids about these important subjects," he said. "I want to get out and spread the word more and I want to raise more money. This is an expensive place to keep running and we want to expand our reach and be able to invite more folks into the museum."

The chairman of the museum's board introduced Bass, noting he was hired after a nationwide search.

Diane LaFollette will remain the chief operating officer at the museum, officials said.

Selz oversaw a major renovation of the downtown Little Rock museum, which officials say spurred a major increase in visitors.

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