Freedom Center Executive Team

Freedom Center CEOP Don MurphyDonald W. Murphy, Chief Executive Officer

Donald W. Murphy, joined the Freedom Center as CEO in February 2007. He is the former deputy director of the National Park Service, where he assisted in managing 390 national park units covering approximately 84 million acres, more than 23,000 employees, and a total budget of more than $2.3 billion. Prior to his work with the NPS, Murphy served for seven years as the director of California State Parks, the nation's largest and most diverse state park system.

Murphy has extensive management experience with museums and cultural and historic sites. He was responsible for security at heavily visited national historic sites, including the Statue of Liberty, Mt. Rushmore and Independence Hall. During his tenure at California State Parks, Murphy managed the world-renowned California State Railroad Museum, the Hearst Castle State Historic Monument, and several other state museums.

Raised in Los Angeles, CA, Murphy earned a BA degree in Biology in 1975 at the University of California, San Diego. Murphy is married to LaRena Romrell Murphy. They have six children; three boys and three girls: Damien age 34, Kina age 33, Christopher age 32, Liv age 31, Timothy age 18 and Anna age 17. Murphy is a published poet and has authored a number of articles. Backpacking, writing, and golf are among his hobbies.

Paul Bernish

Chief Communications Officer - pbernish@nurfc.org
  • Public Relations/Marketing/Advertising
  • Private Events
  • Web Site
  • Partnership for Human Freedom
  • Passage to Freedom (Ohio Tourism)

Ernest Britton

Chief Officer for Community Engagement - ebritton@freedomcenter.org
  • Volunteers – Freedom Conductors
  • Freedom Stations
  • Community Programs

Casondra Cooper

Chief Development Officer - ccooper@nurfc.org
  • Annual Fund and Membership Development
  • Corporate, Individual and Foundation Solicitations

Gary Dowdell

Chief Financial Officer - gdowdell@nurfc.org
  • IT/AV
  • Finance
  • Building & Grounds

Ernest Perry

Chief Innovation Officer - eperry@nurfc.org
  • Innovation
  • Digital Media
  • eLearning

Yolanda Sherrer

Human Resources Manager - ysherrer@nurfc.org
  • Human Resources

Chris Shires

Director of Education, Exhibits and Programs - cshires@nurfc.org

 

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