Photo courtesy of Nicole Griffin.

WonderLab is excited to welcome the newest member of the WonderLab Board of Directors, Nicole Griffin. Nicole will serve on the Board of Directors for a 3 year term that began January 2022. Nicole is the Director of Indiana University’s Visitor Information Center, a Bloomington native, a University of Evansville alumna, an advocate for social justice, visual and performing arts, and lifelong learning, and a long-term supporter of WonderLab.  As Director of the Visitor Information Center, Nicole leads a team of undergraduate and graduate students as they welcome people from all over the world, share information and resources about the campus and community, and invite visitors to explore IU’s history and unique story.

Nicole has supported WonderLab since the doors first opened in 1998. The original location, a small space in the historic Wicks Building on the north side of the Bloomington courthouse square, was near her husband’s realty office, which made taking trips easy, enjoyable, and frequent. “One of my favorite WonderLab memories,” Nicole said, “is of my son, my father, and I climbing the Grapevine Climber, three generations playing and learning together.” 

As a child, Nicole’s deep interest and respect for science was nurtured by her parents who encouraged her to explore and discover the world around her, her teachers at University Elementary School who emphasized the arts, humanities, and science, and her participation in programs like Hilltop Garden and Nature Center where she planted, cultivated, and harvested vegetables from her assigned garden plot.  As parents, Nicole and her husband passed on their love of science to their son and were thankful to have a resource like WonderLab that celebrates play based learning in a STEM environment.

Current board members expressed enthusiasm for Nicole’s appointment. “Nicole has an amazing history with WonderLab and knows the museum,” said Brandon O’Leary, a current board member and past Board President. “She is a long time member, a parent with a child who grew up as a member and became a volunteer, an event attendee, and is a financial supporter. Nicole’s perspectives from her experiences with the museum in each of these key areas will make her an amazing board member.”

Community service is and has always been a significant part of Nicole’s life. “Being able to give back to my community by serving on the board at WonderLab is humbling,” Nicole said, “WonderLab has been and continues to be a part of my life as a community member, as a parent, as an early childhood educator, and now as a new member of the board.”

WonderLab Executive Director, Karen Jepson-Innes, praised Nicole’s appointment to the board. “I’m really excited about the energy Nicole will bring to the board,” Karen said, “she is willing to dive right in and has already joined our Strategic Planning Committee and will soon check out the Board Finance Committee.

WonderLab is an award-winning science museum located at 308 W. Fourth St. on the B-Line Trail in Bloomington, Indiana. General admission is $12, and children younger than one are free. Masks are required for all visitors age 2 years+. For current hours and the most up-to-date information go to wonderlab.org or WonderLab’s Facebook page.