Nick Martinez
Chief Executive Officer
Nick Martinez is the Chief Executive Officer of the Harlem Gallery of Science. He has nearly two decades of experience in arts and culture and in nonprofit leadership and is recognized for building innovative programs that leverage institutional priorities, strengthen community impact, and advance equity and access.
Previously, Martinez served as the Vice President of Education and Engagement at the Museum of the City of New York, where he led the museum’s education, public programs, youth and family engagement, civic initiatives, and community partnership strategies. He oversaw a multidisciplinary team responsible for creating meaningful learning and engagement experiences that connect New Yorkers to the city’s history, culture, and future. Nick spearheaded initiatives that expanded audience participation, increased engagement among historically underrepresented communities, and strengthened partnerships with government officials and agencies, schools, and community and cultural organizations across New York City.
Prior to joining the Museum of the City of New York, he spent fourteen years at the American Museum of Natural History, where he held a series of progressively senior leadership roles culminating in Assistant Director of Youth Initiatives. He led strategic planning, youth development programs, workforce initiatives, community partnerships, and grant-funded projects serving hundreds of students annually in deep scientific and cultural learning.
In addition to his museum leadership, Nick serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Museum Administration Graduate Program at St. John’s University, where he teaches courses on museum education, interpretation, and cultural representation. He is also the founder of Nick Martinez and Associates, a consulting practice that supports museums, nonprofits, and community-based organizations in organizational development, program design, and exhibition design and curation. He curated Video Games: The Great Connector for the Harlem Gallery of Science, which was on view at the Harlem School of the Arts in 2024, the Long Island Museum in 2026, and has appeared in dozens of schools across the five boroughs.
A frequent speaker at national and regional conferences, Martinez has presented on topics including museum leadership, community engagement, youth development, and the role of arts and culture in communities. His scholarship has been published in Curator: The Museum Journal and the Journal of Museum Education. In 2023, he was recognized with the American Alliance of Museums’ prestigious Nancy Hanks Rising Star Award.
Martinez also serves on the Alumni Board of Directors for Chess in the Schools and previously served as Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Museum Association of New York, where he also chaired the Governance and Nominating Committee and advocated for funding and support for arts and culture organizations across the state. Through his leadership, teaching, scholarship, and service, he is committed to strengthening the role of cultural institutions as engines for learning, civic engagement, economic growth, and community impact.