Da Vinci Science Center Sets Pay Range for Next CEO at $185,000 to $200,000

Jan. 14, 2026

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

The Da Vinci Science Center needs a new chief executive and is willing to pay $185,000 to $200,000 annually.

The center promotes what it calls STEAM education but it has also generated a lot of hot air.

The job is posted on hirehive.com. Current CEO Lin Erickson will retire in June after what the science exhibit and education center calls two decades of “transformative leadership.”

During Erickson’s tenure, she pursued a failed attempt to move the center to Easton from the campus of Cedar Crest College. Then she and others raised millions of public and private dollars to move to Hamilton Street in downtown Allentown.

In the center’s first year, it missed its attendance and outreach goals by a whopping 60%. It served about 160,000 people, which might be fewer than it served at Cedar Crest. Was that worth millions of taxpayers’ dollars?

At least $15 million from the federal and state government went to this. What’s the return? Is this the biggest Lehigh Valley boondoggle ever?

Transformative leadership, indeed. Very good at making pitches for money, no doubt, but there’s a $75 million institution in downtown Allentown that didn’t even hit half of its goal. Erickson was paid $198,752 in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, and at that rate will be paid about $16,500 per month until retirement.

The want ad for the next CEO includes a reference to “long-term sustainability.” That should be the first thing mentioned, but more directly. The next person needs to bring in more money and more people.

Also the usual jargon:

— “forward-looking strategic leadership.” Does anybody ever seek backward-looking non-strategic leadership?

— “Serve as a compelling ambassador for the organization.” Better than non-compelling.

— “Guide strategic marketing, communications, and outreach efforts.” There are people who speak this way and think it’s meaningful. The more somebody says strategic, the less they are saying.

There is some solid stuff in the ad too, but it could be more blunt. This job is about raising money and increasing revenue and attendance. Maybe cutting costs. Most of the rest is fluff.

In addition to the salary, the job offers good benefits: “Medical, Dental, Vision, FSA, HSA, 403(b), STD/LTD/Life, & PTO.”

So there’s a job available for somebody who wants to promote STEAM education. Apply at this link.

If somebody can make this place succeed, the pay is reasonable. Millions of public dollars are at stake, and the Board of Trustees should be demanding improvement immediately.

Here’s a link to the Board of Trustees. Knowing some of them probably helps.

And full STEAM ahead!