Welcoming New Foundation CEO Sarah Bush

In late 2024 the NMMNHF Board created a hiring committee to begin the search for a new CEO in anticipation of the retirement of CEO Abigail Eaton in May of 2025. The committee and Board are excited to announce new Foundation Chief Executive Officer Sarah Bush.

D’Nette Wood, Board Vice-Chair and head of the hiring committee expressed a warm welcome for the incoming CEO, saying “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Sarah to the Museum Foundation. Her remarkable achievements throughout her career, from securing significant funding for impactful global health initiatives, to her impressive business revenue growth, speak volumes about her capabilities. Her experience in building strong teams, cultivating crucial partnerships, and driving ambitious fundraising campaigns is precisely what we need as we look towards a greater future for the Foundation."

“Sarah’s experience in Albuquerque as the Regional Vice President for Community Engagement at the American Cancer Society also provides her with valuable insight into our community and its philanthropic landscape. Her ability to engage diverse stakeholders and drive mission-focused outcomes will be invaluable as we deepen our connections and expand our impact.”

About New CEO Sarah Bush

Sarah Bush is an accomplished nonprofit leader with over 20 years of experience in fundraising, communications, and community engagement. She began her career at The Field Museum in Chicago, where she managed donor and cultivation events that supported science education and connected people to the natural world. Since then, she has held senior leadership roles at the American Cancer Society, ShelterBox USA, and Healthy Learners, where she most recently served as Vice President of Development and Communications. Her work spans building cross-sector partnerships, scaling global health and education efforts, and rallying public support for social impact.

Now, Sarah brings this deep experience to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation, where she will lead efforts to expand philanthropy, deepen community relationships, and strengthen long-term sustainability. A long-time Rotarian and former board member of the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, she is passionate about civic and cultural engagement.

“As a child, I grew up wandering the halls of the Smithsonian, and those early museum experiences sparked a lifelong curiosity about the world,” said Bush. “Museums have the power to make science, history, and culture tangible and exciting, especially for young people. I’m honored to lead the Foundation in securing the resources needed to ensure this museum continues to educate and inspire current and future generations of New Mexicans.”

A Farewell to Retiring Foundation CEO Abigail Eaton

Abigail Eaton, former CEO of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation is bidding a fond farewell to former CEO Abigail Eaton.

Eaton had a storied 28-year history with the Foundation, beginning with volunteering at the 1997 annual Chocolate Fantasy gala fundraiser. After five dedicated years of volunteer work, she was hired on

in 2002 as an Event Coordinator, and shortly thereafter moved to a Development position, where she worked for 10 years. After a hiatus in 2012, Eaton returned to the Foundation as a consultant in 2015, and was hired as CEO in 2019, where she led the organization for six years until her retirement in May of 2025.  

Eaton’s accomplishments at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation have been many. During her time at the organization, she helped raise over $16 million in funds, bringing to  the Museum world-class traveling exhibits such as Da Vinci – The Genius, Dogs, a Science Tail!, Chocolate: The Exhibition, and Conserving America’s Wildlands: The Vision of Ted Turner, as well as Museum exhibits such as STARTUP: Albuquerque and the Personal Computer Revolution and the recently opened Bradbury Stamm Construction Hall of Ancient Life.

“I’ve always been committed to the mission of the Foundation and the Museum,” said Eaton, “and I will remain a staunch supporter in the future. I’m proud of the positions I’ve held at the Foundation, and am very, very proud of all the accomplishments in my time there.”

NMMNHF Board Chair Dan Treibel offered a heartfelt farewell on Eaton’s departure, stating, "For many years, Abigail has been the heart and soul of our Museum Foundation. Her tireless commitment has been instrumental in the Museum's success. Even during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Abigail's steady hand ensured the foundation not only weathered the storm but emerged stronger.

"On behalf of the entire Museum Foundation board and staff, we extend our deepest gratitude to Abigail for her remarkable service. We wish her all the best in her retirement and hope she enjoys this new chapter to the fullest."

Foundation Supports Museum Renovation with Membership Benefits

Albuquerque, April 23, 2024 -  The New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation is excited to support major facility renovations the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science is undertaking beginning August 4, 2025. 

The Museum will be closed for approximately 7 months during the construction project that will include an enlarged lobby to improve traffic flow and allow for more efficient ticketing. The box office will be unified to streamline ticket-buying, the NatureWorks Discovery Store will be re-imagined and expanded to include additional retail space for new inventory, new skylights will add more natural light in the Museum’s atrium, and permanent exhibition halls will be modernized and refreshed. Finally, updates to the sewer line will accommodate future growth.

The total cost of the Museum renovation is estimated at $3.67 million. It will be funded through a mix of state sources including from Statewide Capital Outlay and the Cultural Affairs Infrastructure Fund. Additional funding for the renovation of NatureWorks will be provided by the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation.  Revenue from the Store is critical in providing additional support for the Museum. The NatureWorks Discovery Store renovation will be completed in the same timeframe as the overall Museum renovations - approximately seven months.

What this Means for Museum Members

The Foundation is deeply grateful for the continued support of the membership, and is committed to making sure memberships continue to provide value during the closure. These special accommodations have been arranged to benefit members:

• Membership Extension beginning August 4, 2025

  All active memberships will be automatically extended by seven months, so members won’t miss a thing when the Museum re-opens.

  
  

• Free Admission to Other DCA Museums & Historic Sites beginning August 4, 2025

  Thanks to the Department of Cultural Affairs, members will enjoy free admission at participating DCA institutions across the state. Just bring a current, valid membership card, and you're all set!  A list of participating locations can be found at https://www.newmexicoculture.org/visit

Museum Renovation Details and Resources

More information about renovations to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science can be found at https://media.newmexicoculture.org/release/1794/always-evolving-nm-m and updates and information throughout the project will be available at https://www.nmnaturalhistory.org and at the Museum's social media accounts: Facebook and Instagram.

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation will also provide updates and information to members through a monthly email newsletter (sign up at https://www.naturalhistoryfoundation.org/newsletter-annualreport), online at naturalhistoryfoundation.org, and at the Foundation's social media accounts: Facebook and Instagram.

About The New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation (NMMNHF) is a 501(c)(3) founded in 1978 whose purpose is to support the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. The Foundation’s offices are co-located inside the Museum at 1800 Mountain Rd. NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104. The mission of the NMMNHF is to advance the educational, scientific, and cultural programs of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science by raising funds and generating community support.

About the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Trustees of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation, through the generous support of donors. Established in 1986, the mission of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science is to preserve and interpret the distinctive natural and scientific heritage of our state through extraordinary collections, research, exhibits, and programs designed to ignite a passion for lifelong learning. The NMMNHS offers exhibitions, programs, and workshops in Geoscience, including Paleontology and Mineralogy, Bioscience, and Space Science. It is the Southwest’s largest repository for fossils and includes a Planetarium and a large format 3D DynaTheater.