State Museum welcomes Dr. Jeffrey L. Brodie as Chief Engagement and Content Officer
May 28, 2025
Dr. Brodie brings more than three decades of experience to the State Museum.
The South Carolina State Museum welcomed Jeffrey L. Brodie, Ph.D., as its new Chief Engagement and Content Officer this summer. Dr. Brodie brings over 30 years of leadership experience from the Smithsonian Institution and the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh. In this new role, he will lead public engagement, education, content development, collections care, and strategic partnerships to advance the museum’s mission. He will also be a key figure in the museum’s Reimagine the Experience initiative, focused on expanding and modernizing exhibitions, programming, and statewide outreach.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Brodie to our amazingly talented Museum staff,” says State Museum Executive Director Amy Bartow-Melia. “His exceptional experience, leadership and passion for innovation will be vital as we continue to grow the Museum.”
Dr. Brodie began his museum career at the Smithsonian in 1989 and served in various curatorial and leadership positions at the National Museum of American History and the National Postal Museum. He has led major exhibition projects, including the preservation of the Star-Spangled Banner and the “America’s Smithsonian” national traveling exhibition.
As acting director of the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, Dr. Brodie oversaw research, education and public programming aimed at expanding the public’s understanding of innovation. He served as the lead curator for the “Change YOUR Game” exhibition, which explored invention, technology, and sports. He also founded the Innoskate program – a national initiative that celebrates the creativity and innovation of skateboarding culture.
At the Heinz History Center, Dr. Brodie served as Vice President for Museums. He managed curatorial and collections teams, while leading strategic planning for new exhibitions during a major capital expansion effort.
Dr. Brodie holds a B.A. in History and Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, an M.A. in History from the University of Connecticut, and a Ph.D. in History from The George Washington University.
About the South Carolina State Museum
Since opening in 1988, the South Carolina State Museum has been committed to collecting, preserving and showcasing the rich culture, art, natural history, technology and innovation of the Palmetto State. Through a comprehensive collection of over 1.1 million objects and four floors of stimulating exhibitions and displays housed within the historic Columbia Mills Building, the State Museum provides educational environments that entertain, inspire and enrich the lives of millions of visitors and students from across South Carolina. For more information about the museum, visit scmuseum.org.
