The Tampa Bay History Center has named Audrey Chapuis as its next president and chief executive officer following a global search, the organization announced.
The center’s board of trustees unanimously approved Chapuis’ appointment.
She currently serves as executive director of the American Library in Paris and will begin her new role later this year.
“Over the last summer, we received absolutely stunning interest from candidates around the world,” board chair Chris Alvarez said. “Audrey stood out as exemplifying everything we would want in our next leader, with exceptional academic and nonprofit credentials, as well as a proven track record of fundraising and innovative program development.”
Located along downtown Tampa’s Riverwalk, the Tampa Bay History Center preserves Hillsborough County’s historic records and presents more than 12,000 years of regional history through interactive exhibits.
The center also houses one of the world’s largest collections of historic maps of Florida and the Caribbean.
Chapuis said she is eager to engage the community and expand how the region’s history is shared.
“The Gulf Coast region’s history is as diverse and dynamic as its people, and I’m excited to bring those stories to life in innovative and engaging ways,” she said.
A Texas native, Chapuis has previously held leadership roles at Northwestern University’s Pritzker Legal Research Center in Chicago.
She earned degrees from Harvard University Extension School, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and HEC Paris.
She currently serves on the boards of Marymount International School in Paris and News Decoder, a nonprofit focused on global citizenship through journalism and education.
The executive search was conducted by Kittleman & Associates, a national firm specializing in nonprofit leadership recruitment.