The Lizzadro Museum’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce Dr. Kyle Brill as the Museum’s new Executive Director. Dr. Brill will start on January 9, 2024. He succeeds Dorothy J. Asher, G.G. who will step down as Director on December 31, 2023, after nearly 36 years at the Museum. Mrs. Asher will remain on the Board of Directors and act as part-time curator to help with the transition. After a two-year search, we are proud to have this distinguished young man, Kyle Brill, lead the Museum into the next generation.

Kyle grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago, his parents were members of the Museum, and he was inspired to become a geologist while visiting the Museum as a child. Kyle received his B.A. in Geology and Spanish at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. He then attended Michigan Technological University (MTU) in Houghton, Michigan and received his M.S. in Geology and Ph.D. in Geophysics.

While at MTU, Kyle served in the United States Peace Corps as part of the Masters International Program working on the Environmental Conservation and Income Generation Project in Guatemala. He gained experience in working with Guatemalan host agencies on volcano monitoring, municipal emergency action plans and several community projects. He wrote, received and managed a small project assistance grant to construct perimeter walls around a school compound from ecoladrillos (eco-bricks) made of compacted plastic refuse. He also managed academic groups and logistics for Guatemalan volcano investigations and successfully recruited students around the country to attend MTU.

During the Covid pandemic Kyle was a Postdoctoral Associate at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York completing research projects and working with small groups of students on field geophysics. Since 2021, Kyle has been an Instructor at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, teaching mineralogy and redesigning courses to attract and retain students while maintaining high academic standards.

He currently lives in the western suburbs with his wife and daughter. Kyle is excited to use his skills in new ways to promote the Lizzadro Museum, connect with new generations, and ensure the next phase of stewardship.

Please join us on Sunday, March 10 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to meet Dr. Kyle Brill and see his presentation at 1:00 p.m.