ORLANDO, Fla. (July 21, 2026) —Following a national search, The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida (Holocaust Center) has appointed Tim Roberts, an accomplished museum leader, historian, and Florida native with more than 20 years of experience guiding museums and cultural initiatives, as its next Chief Executive Officer.  Roberts will start in that role on September 14, taking over from interim CEO Emily Sterling.

“We’re excited and proud to welcome Tim as our next CEO.  He has the experience we prioritized in developing a substantial museum, greatly expanding our mission reach and impact, is beloved by staff, and has successfully worked within culturally sensitive communities,” said Ron Schirtzer, President of the Holocaust Center Board of Directors.  “We also want to thank Emily for helping guide our organization through the reimagining of our new museum and working closely with the board to position the organization for growth.”

Roberts currently serves as Executive Director of Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens in Long Beach, Calif. where he manages a 7.5-acre museum campus, $3 million operating budget and a multidisciplinary team of 26 staff and more than 150 volunteers.  A people-centered leader, he has focused on strengthening the organization’s sustainability while advancing the site’s role as a dynamic, broadly accessible cultural and educational resource.

Founded by Holocaust survivor Tess Wise, the Holocaust Center has worked for nearly 45 years to use the history and lessons of the Holocaust to build a just and caring community free of antisemitism and all forms of prejudice and bigotry.  Through extensive outreach with educational and cultural programs and exhibits, the Holocaust Center teaches the principles of good citizenship to thousands of people each year, rooted in values that have the power to disrupt patterns of prejudice and injustice: empathy, courage, and hope.

“Tim joins the Holocaust Center with a mandate to lead us into the next decade, steward and grow our mission, and ensure more people can experience our programming and the new museum,” said Nyea Sturman, Vice Chair of the Holocaust Center Board of Directors, who ran the Center’s search committee.

The Holocaust Center previously announced it has secured gifts and pledges equaling 70 percent of its $63 million funding goal to build, operate and endow the transformative “Holocaust Museum for Hope & Humanity” in Downtown Orlando. 

The new museum is designed around a nontraditional approach to Holocaust education that meets younger generations where they are, helping them understand how injustice, othering, and unbelonging take shape in their own communities through the lessons of the Holocaust. Through immersive learning environments, first-person testimony of local survivors, and innovative technology, the museum is a space for ongoing conversations about personal and collective responsibility and action in the face of injustice. Two Orlando firms are prominently involved in the new museum’s vision: HuntonBrady Architects is overseeing the building design, while award-winning experience design, media production and creative management agency MDSX will spearhead exhibit design.

“At its core, the museum is a tool to expand the Holocaust Center’s enduring mission, to support state-wide educational efforts and ultimately, reach more people throughout Florida and among the millions of visitors who come here from around the world,” said Roberts. “My family and I are thrilled to return to my home state where we have so many family, friends, and colleagues.  I’m looking forward to putting down roots at this important institution and engaging with the wonderful Orlando community.”

Earlier in his career, Roberts was Deputy Director for the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs’ Historic Sites Division for five years. He oversaw a statewide system of eight museums and historic sites and led operations, planning, and public engagement through a multidisciplinary staff of 30. He oversaw operating budgets, capital projects, large-scale public programs and statewide initiatives, and worked closely with state leadership, federal partners, and community groups.

A defining thread of Roberts’ career is his commitment to community-centered programming that elevates shared histories with respect, empathy, and integrity. At the Bosque Redondo Memorial (Site of Conscience) he collaborated with Native American communities to redesign culturally-grounded exhibits rooted in respect and inclusion. Throughout his career, he has gained experience interpreting difficult and complex histories and positioning museums as trusted spaces for dialogue, learning, and civic engagement.

Originally from northwest Florida, Roberts began his career as an educator, teaching history at the University of West Florida and as a consultant on projects with organizations including the Smithsonian Institution and National Park Service. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from the University of West Florida, with a focus on historic preservation, public history and museums.

“From the minute I read his resume, I was immediately impressed with Tim's background and valuable mix of skills. And after meeting him, I became twice as enthusiastic as I envisioned him leading such an important cultural institution in our community. I’m thrilled that the search committee and board of directors saw the same thing,” said Jennifer Evins, President and CEO of United Arts Central Florida, an organization that supports the Holocaust Center and participated in the search process. “I look forward to working closely with Tim as a peer as we continue to grow the arts and culture community. His expertise in historical preservation and education elevates Central Florida’s credibility as a true international cultural destination."

DHR Global, an executive search firm with more than 60 offices around the world, served as the Holocaust Center’s search consultant. The search process was funded by the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation in Winter Park through a substantial capacity-building grant.