National Aquarium Welcomes Three New Board of Directors Members

At its September 2023 meeting, the National Aquarium Board of Directors welcomed three new members: Victor Abiamiri, Dori Henry and Dr. Katie Matthews.

"We are truly grateful that these community leaders have agreed to commit their valuable time and talents to service on the National Aquarium Board of Directors," said Aquarium President and CEO John Racanelli. "Their expertise and perspectives further strengthen our mission to inspire conservation of the world's aquatic treasures."

Abiamiri, a partner, portfolio manager, and Co-Head of Baltimore Private Client at Brown Advisory, is a former NFL player who brings a unique blend of professional insight and community involvement to the National Aquarium. A member of Brown Advisory's Private Client Leadership Team, he plays a crucial part in overseeing management initiatives and cultural priorities within the firm. Before his career in finance, Abiamiri played five seasons as a defensive end for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. His finance journey started with a summer internship at Brown Advisory and included additional internships at Park Lane in Los Angeles and Samuel James Limited in Baltimore.

Henry is Chief of Staff to Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, overseeing all communications, community engagement and government affairs and serving as a strategic advisor. Prior to serving in her current role, Henry was the County's communications director, overseeing all public messaging and media relations. Before joining the Olszewski Administration, she held senior positions at the U.S. Department of Labor during the Obama Administration and the Maryland Departments of Labor and Health. Henry has a Bachelor of Science degree from James Madison University and a master's degree in journalism from Boston University.

Matthews, the Chief Scientist at Oceana, the world's largest marine conservation advocacy organization, is a renowned marine scientist and conservationist. She also oversees Oceana's co-chairing of the global Coalition for Fisheries Transparency and serves as a program advisor for the Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation. Additionally, Matthews sits on the board of the Oyster Recovery Partnership.

Her career has taken her to diverse environments, including Arctic ice caps, Capitol Hill, international treaty negotiations and the waters of the eastern tropical Pacific. After a decade of conducting research, Matthews returned to her hometown of Washington, DC, to work as a legislative fellow in the U.S. Congress and later for the Office of Marine Conservation in the U.S. State Department.

Matthews holds a Ph.D. and a Master of Science in earth and environmental science from the University of Pennsylvania.

The National Aquarium's Board of Directors provides strategic, long-term planning and oversight for the organization, one of the top three aquariums in the United States. As Maryland's largest paid tourist attraction, it serves as a beacon of Baltimore tourism, an important economic engine for the city and state, and a hands-on advocate for local and global conservation initiatives.