Children’s museum CEO receives business alumna award

The School of Business has presented its Distinguished Business Alumna Award to children’s museum executive Kathy Dwyer Southern. For more than 25 years, Southern has provided leadership to major museums, cultural and philanthropy organizations, associations and government in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Since 2001, she has served as president and CEO of Capital Children’s Museum, in Washington, D.C. Her goal is to find a new location for the 28-year-old museum and create a national children’s museum.

Southern earned her Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Marketing from the School of Business in 1968 and was the first student in the Master of Arts in Arts Administration degree program, receiving her degree in 1972. Her award was presented by Dean Michael M. Knetter at the business school’s Fall Banquet at the Monona Terrace Convention Center on Friday, Oct. 18.

Prior to joining Capital Children’s Museum, Southern served for five years as President & CEO of Port Discovery in Baltimore, Maryland, one of the country’s preeminent children’s museums. She led the creation and development of the museum which opened in 1998, and its successful $35 million capital campaign.

Before taking her post with Port Discovery, Southern was Executive Director of Montpelier, a 2,700-acre presidential site and museum which was the home of James Madison. Southern was the founding Executive Director of the National Cultural Alliance, a coalition of national service organizations representing more than 23,000 institutions working in the arts and humanities.

Southern has a long history of volunteer service to UW–Madison and the School of Business. She served on the Wisconsin Alumni Association’s Executive Committee from 1992 to 2001 and served as its chair from 1999-2000. She served on School of Business advisory boards for nine years, including one term as president. She also has played key roles on the alumni advisory board of the business school’s Bolz Center for Arts Administration.

Southern and her husband, Hugh Southern, live in Arlington, Virginia with their son, Jaime Andres.