The Bruce Museum (the Bruce) has named Nathan Smallwood as Chief Operating Officer, and Arts Consulting Group (ACG) extends its congratulations on his leadership appointment. He began his tenure on November 12, 2025.
Located in Bruce Park, overlooking the Long Island Sound in Greenwich, Connecticut, the Bruce Museum harnesses the transformative potential of art and science to spark curiosity and connection. Established in 1912 with a multidisciplinary vision, the museum houses a unique collection that encompasses visual arts as well as works of scientific, historical, and cultural significance spanning millennia. With education at its core, the Bruce offers a wide-ranging exhibition and public program, serving as a dynamic laboratory for discovery that welcomes and engages visitors of all ages.
Smallwood brings more than two decades of leadership experience, spearheading operations and strengthening visitor engagement at cultural, educational, and environmental organizations across the country, including at the Wild Bear Nature Center, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, and the Taft Museum of Art. In his new role at the Bruce, Smallwood will work closely with senior leadership to provide strategic, financial, and operational oversight and support interdepartmental collaboration. He will also serve as a key liaison with the Town of Greenwich and community partners.
“Nathan Smallwood’s background and expertise made him an obvious choice for the Bruce. He brings both a steady, mission-driven approach and a genuine passion for the intersection of art, science, and community engagement that defines the Bruce,” said Mary-Kate O’Hare, Susan E. Lynch Executive Director and CEO. “We are happy to welcome Nathan to our senior leadership team and look forward to collaborating with him to ensure the Bruce’s operational excellence and growing impact throughout Greenwich and the greater Tri-State region.”
“The Bruce Museum’s integration of art and science and its vibrant role as a civic and educational center resonate deeply with my career-long commitment to institutions that educate, connect, and inspire,” said Smallwood. “As an executive with deep experience leading organizations dedicated to art and nature and as a Yale graduate who has lived in and loves the region, I am looking forward to collaborating with Bruce leadership and staff to advance the Bruce’s mission, with innovation and community as core priorities.”
Smallwood comes to the Bruce from the Wild Bear Nature Center, where he served as CEO from 2023 through 2025. Under his leadership, the center underwent a $13-million capital expansion, creating a new, net-energy-positive campus that increased public engagement and institutional sustainability. In his position, Smallwood oversaw all finance, HR, and technology systems and implemented a mission-critical database integration to support fundraising, programs, and visitor engagement.
Previously, Smallwood served as the president and chief executive officer at the Kalamazoo Nature Center, where he directed a $4-million annual budget, co-managed a $30-million endowment, and oversaw high-performing building systems and infrastructure upgrades while simultaneously eliminating a longstanding structural deficit and growing the organization through a blend of innovation and strategic discipline.
As the executive director of the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center from 2011 to 2016, Smallwood grew the organization’s operating budget, quadrupled rental and earned income through creative programming, and oversaw IT and database integrations supporting development, finance, marketing, and admissions.
Smallwood began his career spearheading marketing and fundraising initiatives at the Taft Museum of Art and the New England Conservatory of Music, increasing contributed income, institutional visibility, and public engagement. He received his MBA in strategy and marketing from the Yale School of Management, a Master of Environmental Management, Economics, and Policy from Yale School of the Environment, and a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College.
ACG is the leading provider of hands-on interim management, executive search, revenue enhancement, strategic planning & community engagement, and facilities & program planning and research services for the arts and culture industry. ACG consultants are located in communities across the United States and Canada to best serve the needs of our clients. ACG team members have decades of combined senior leadership experience in every artistic and cultural discipline and area of functional management expertise.