Ecotarium CEO stepping down at the end of May

Photo | Courtesy Lucy Hale, outgoing president and CEO of the EcoTarium

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Lucy Hale, the president and CEO of the Worcester science museum EcoTarium, will step down from her role on May 28, when her three-year contract ends, the museum announced Friday.

Hale, who took over as EcoTarium CEO on Aug. 20, 2018, oversaw the completion of the museum's signature outdoor exhibit Wild Cat Station and was growing attendance before the museum shut down in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The museum remained shuttered for the next eight months and its earned revenue dropped 80%.

The EcoTarium board is starting a search for a new president and CEO. Kerry Castorano, the vice president of institutional advancement who has been with the museum since February 2017, will serve as acting president and CEO.

Hale came to the EcoTarium having served in various wildlife and museum positions in Texas, including director of Trinity River Audubon Center in Dallas and director of school programs at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and education manager at the Dallas Zoo & Children's Aquarium.

“It’s been a true honor to serve this historic institution and vibrant community,” Hale said in the announcement of her departure. “The museum has emerged from the pandemic in a strong position, and the team has a solid plan in place to carefully bring all of our offerings and experiences back online in a financially sustainable fashion, with the long-term health of the museum as the top priority.”

During Hale's stint as CEO, the EcoTarium sold its 323-acre site in Rutland, which had been used as a camp for children, for $400,000.

Hale's predecessor at the museum, Joe Cox, served as CEO for five years before taking on a similar role in Fort Lauderdale. The EcoTarium announcement didn't specify where Hale was headed next.

The EcoTarium opened its outdoor areas on April 23 and plans to reopen its indoor exhibits over the summer. The museum is currently open three days per week on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly said the EcoTarium was operating on about 80% of its typical revenue during the pandemic. The museum was actually down about 80% in its earned revenue.