Virginia Kromm serves as the Chief Advancement Officer at the National Museum of Natural History and leads the museum’s Office of Advancement and Communications which includes the offices of Development, Special Events, and Communications and Public Affairs.
Virginia brings to the museum over 15 years of experience in fundraising, communications, and program management. Prior to joining the museum’s staff, Virginia served as the Chief Advancement Officer at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. There she led a team that raised historic levels of funding for the Zoo and Smithsonian’s global conservation work. She also successfully guided the establishment of the Smithsonian National Zoo Membership Program and managed the Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s Advisory Board.
Prior to working at the Smithsonian, Virginia served as Vice President of External Affairs at Island Press, a non-profit publisher of environmental science. There, she created public education programs and developed national outreach campaigns that raised the profile of scientists and their efforts to contribute to environmental solutions. Virginia also directed corporate and foundation fundraising at Resources for the Future, an environmental economics think tank.
Virginia is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis. She is an active member of the Board of Directors at Friends of the National Arboretum.
