National Children’s Museum Welcomes Four New Board Members

New Trustees bring extensive experience to the Congressionally-designated institution focused on play-based science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) opportunities

WASHINGTON – National Children’s Museum, a learn-through-play institution in downtown D.C. that sparks curiosity through science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) exhibits and programs, is pleased to announce the appointment of four new Trustees this past year. The institution welcomes:

• Andrea Dykes, Managing Partner, Howard Insurance
• Dirck A. Hargraves, Esq., Founder and Principal, Ascendant Strategies, LLC
• D. Jermaine Johnson, Regional President, PNC Bank of Greater Washington and Virginia
• Aya Kanai, Senior Director of Marketing, Target

“We are thrilled to welcome such talented and dedicated leaders to the Museum’s Board of Trustees,” said Kiryn Hoffman, President and CEO of National Children’s Museum. "They are an exceptional group of community-focused individuals committed to elevating the Museum’s mission to inspire children to care about and change the world. As the institution launches a new strategic plan focused on providing exceptional hands-on experiences, championing STEAM education and expanding its reach, and ensuring a sustainable path forward for the Museum, these leaders bring skillsets that will undoubtedly support our growth and success.”

“I am delighted these leaders will be making an impact with National Children’s Museum, helping ensure that we are able to reach and inspire the next generation of innovators,” said Robert Volmer, chair of the museum’s Board of Trustees. “Their skillsets are broad, ranging from finance and philanthropy, to community engagement, and brand awareness. Their passion for the mission singular, and they will each contribute to elevating the Museum’s work to create a world where all children feel curious, confident, and prepared to be future leaders.”

Andrea Dykes is the Managing Partner of Howard Insurance. Her areas of expertise include the use of insurance in family wealth transfer planning and business succession planning. Andrea’s thought leadership has been circulated nationally in prominent publications such as Wealth Management’s Trusts and Estates and she has received several industry awards including receiving the inaugural AALU’s Transformer Award for her work in transforming the insurance profession through leadership, community, responsibility, diversity, and results. In addition to her service at the Museum, Andrea sits on the Leadership Council of the Washington Area Women's Foundation and is a member of Finseca and the DC Estate Planning Council. Andrea holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) professional designation. Andrea lives with her family in Maryland.

Dirck A. Hargraves, Esq. is the founder and principal of Ascendant Strategies, LLC (ASL), a public affairs and strategic alliances firm. With Dirck’s 25 years of public affairs expertise, ASL applies a fast-moving campaign approach to achieve its clients’ policy and business goals. Prior to ASL, Dirck served as a Senior Vice President at VOX Global, LLC where he co-founded and led the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Practice. Dirck worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative counsel to Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston, TX) and practiced commercial litigation for the nation’s third-largest multicultural law firm, Alexander, Bearden, Hairston & Marks, LLP. He was also a staff attorney with the FDIC’s Regulations and Legislation Section and an International Trade law clerk for the DC office of Gardner, Carlton & Douglas, LLP. Dirck is a Member and Past Chair of the Fairfax Police Civilian Review Panel and former Fairfax Consumer Protection Commission Commissioner. He recently served as National Newspaper Publishers Association Fund Board Vice Chair; Kingstowne Neighborhood Advisory Board Representative; Fairfax County Election Poll Assistant Chief; and Alexandria, VA NAACP Branch President. Dirck lives with his family in Pennsylvania.

Jermaine Johnson is responsible for overseeing all aspects of PNC’s operations in Greater Washington, including Retail Banking, Corporate & Institutional Banking, Private Banking and community-based activities. Prior to being named to his current role in July 2020, Johnson was an executive vice president and market leader of PNC’s Corporate Banking business for the Greater Washington and Greater Maryland markets. During his almost 30 years in the industry, he has served in a variety of positions in Corporate Banking. Prior to joining PNC in 2005, Johnson was a vice president and portfolio analyst for GE’s Healthcare Financial Services. Previously, Johnson also served as a vice president at Bank of America within the Commercial Banking group. Active in the community, Johnson is a past chair of the Greater Washington Board of Trade and is also a member of the board of Guest Services, Inc., James Madison University College of Business Advisors and the regional advisory board of Kaiser Permanente. He recently became a commissioner of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority to serve in the home community of his family. Jermaine lives with his family in Virginia.

Aya Kanai is a marketing executive, fashion editor and stylist, and creative, and is the Senior Director of Marketing for Global Commerce at Target. Previously, Aya served as the Head of Editorial and Creative at Google Shopping, Head of Content and Creator Partnerships at Pinterest, and Editor-in-Chief at Marie Claire. She spent nearly twenty years as a Fashion Director at publications such as Cosmopolitan, NYLON, Women’s Health, and Teen Vogue. Her fashion and beauty expertise opened doors in the technology sector at both Pinterest and Google. Aya’s commerce expertise is regularly featured in podcasts, publications, and news spotlights. Most recently she was a featured guest on Project Runway Junior streaming on Hulu. Prior to her work as a marketing executive, Aya was a puppet theater artist, awarded the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship for her creative work, and performed across New York City. Aya serves as a Board Member of Apex for Youth, a New York-based non-profit organization empowering underserved Asian youth. Aya lives with her family in New York.

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About National Children’s Museum

A playful learning adventure awaits! National Children’s Museum is a unique hybrid institution in downtown Washington, D.C., that combines learning elements found in a science center with children’s museum experiences. Through play-based science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) exhibits and programs, the Museum sparks curiosity and ignites creativity for children under the age of twelve and their families. Founded in 1974, the Museum has served Washingtonians for five decades, and since reopening its new location in September 2021, the Museum has established itself as an international destination for play, welcoming more than 680,000 visitors across all eight wards, 50 states, and more than 75 countries. Learn more on how to visit the Museum and engage with virtual STEAM resources at nationalchildrensmuseum.org (http://nationalchildrensmuseum.org/).