Laura Lott

A results-oriented, entrepreneurial, strategic leader with a track record of leading transformative change in nonprofit organizations, Laura Lott served as the American Alliance of Museums’ chief operating officer for five years before becoming the chief executive officer in 2015. She led the 2012 relaunch of the Alliance, including rebranding the organization and redesigning its membership and excellence programs—leading to a 70-percent growth in membership and the organization’s first five profitable years in a decade. More recently, Laura led the development of the Alliance’s current strategic plan which emphasizes topics that Alliance members strongly believe are vital to the future viability, relevance and sustainability of museums: diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion in all aspects of museums’ programs and structure; changing business models for financial sustainability; and museums’ growing role in the P–12 education ecosystem. She is also a passionate advocate for strong and engaged boards, speaking to numerous museum boards each year.

Prior to joining AAM, Laura served as chief financial officer and chief operating officer of The JASON Project, an international nonprofit education program at the National Geographic Society with a mission to inspire and motivate students to learn science through great explorers. In the late 90s, Laura helped launch the MarcoPolo: Internet Content for the Classroom program at the former MCI Foundation and managed its partnerships with 50 state departments of education, as well as MCI’s community relations programs.

After studying in Tokyo, Japan, during high school and graduating from American University in Washington, D.C., Laura gained public accounting experience at PricewaterhouseCoopers, with a focus on nonprofit clients. Laura is a Virginia-licensed CPA and a private pilot. She resides in northern Virginia with her husband and daughter.