National Aquarium Announces Meredith Mowen as New Board Chair

At its March 2026 meeting, the National Aquarium Board of Directors elected Meredith Mowen to Chair, while welcoming back long-time member, Ted Wiese.

As a private, nonprofit organization, the National Aquarium is governed by an active, engaged Board of Directors supporting its mission to connect people with nature to inspire compassion and care for our ocean planet. The National Aquarium Foundation (NAF) is a separately incorporated nonprofit, charitable support organization that operates exclusively to receive and hold the endowment of funds and assets for the National Aquarium.

"We are thrilled to welcome Merrie Mowen as our Board Chair," said Jennifer Driban, Interim President and CEO of the National Aquarium. "Merrie's leadership, perspective, and commitment to our mission come at a pivotal moment, and we look forward to partnering with her to advance our vision, strengthen our impact, and guide the Aquarium into its next chapter. We are equally grateful to Ted Wiese for his continued dedication to the National Aquarium and deep understanding of our work, which will be an incredible asset as we continue to connect people with nature."

Mowen has previously served as Chair of the NAF Board and as a member of the National Aquarium Board of Directors, providing strategic guidance and leadership. She is a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at 1919 Investment Counsel, overseeing the firm's Baltimore office.

"I am honored to step into the role of Board Chair for the Aquarium," said Mowen. "I'm personally inspired by our mission and the impact we make in the community every day. I look forward to working closely with my fellow board members and the leadership team to build on this momentum, deepen our impact, and help shape a sustainable future."

With more than 30 years of experience in financial services, Mowen has collaborated with individuals, families, foundations, endowments, and institutional clients to manage and service their complex financial needs. She is a member of the firm's Executive Committee, Operating Committee and Equity Strategy Working Group.

Mowen holds bachelor's degrees from Springfield College and Villa Julie College (now Stevenson University), as well as a Master of Business Administration from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. She is a member of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute and the Baltimore Security Analysts Society and serves on the Board of Trustees for Stevenson University, where she chairs the investment committee.

Wiese brings decades of financial and leadership expertise as he returns to the National Aquarium Board of Directors while also continuing his service to the NAF Board. Wiese previously served as the National Aquarium's Board Chair from March 2022 to 2024. He spent 35 years at T. Rowe Price, where he served as head of global fixed income and was a member of the firm's management committee until 2018.

Wiese is also the newly elected Board Chair at St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute. In addition, he mentors startups through Innovation Works, supporting sustainable economic development in Baltimore. In 2025, Wiese also became an independent trustee of the Fidelity Fixed Income and Asset Allocation Funds.

He earned a bachelor's degree in geology from Yale University, a master's degree in finance from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College, and a master's degree in biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University.

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, the Aquarium 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.