The American Association of Museums has elected Newark Museum's Chief Operating Officer, Meme Omogbai, Vice Chair, positioning her to serve as AAM's next Chair, an unprecedented honor for the Newark Museum. Prior to her election, Omogbai served AAM in many capacities including co-author of its ground-breaking strategic plan.

Founded in 1906, AAM represents more than 18,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, almost 3,000 institutions and 250 corporate members. The organization's membership includes the entire scope of museums as well as aquariums, zoos, botanical gardens, arboretums, historic sites and science and technology centers. The Nigerian-born Omogbai will be its first black leader.

According to the organization's election announcement, the AAM's mission is to strengthen museums through leadership, collaboration and service by helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the museum community.

Omogbai joined Newark Museum, the state's largest museum, in 1995. An MBA and a licensed CPA, she completed post graduate education programs at Harvard University and the J. Paul Getty Trust Management Institute, where she also served on the faculty.

Active in professional affairs, Omogbai has been cited with several awards including being named by The Network Journal as one of the 25 Most Influential Black Women in Business in North America. Her nonprofit sector stewardship has spanned service on the boards of several organizations including the New Jersey State Historic Trust, National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs, Regional Business Partnership, and Montclair State University's College of Science and Mathematics.