CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA (May 12, 2026) — The African American Museum of Iowa (AAMI) is pleased to announce that Anne Harris Carter has been selected as the Museum’s new Executive Director. Carter will begin her position on May 26.
With a career spanning government, regulated industries, and senior leadership in mult-ibillion-dollar corporations, Carter brings expertise and passion to designing and implementing change. She leaves her previous position as Community Health (Health Equity) Program Manager with Linn County Public Health, a position in which she worked to dismantle structural barriers, expand implementation partnerships, and grow relationships with communities at increased risk for poor health outcomes. Carter also worked for Alliant Energy for eight years in positions including Director of Recruitment and Diversity, Director of Energy Efficiency, and Director of Diversity and Inclusion. In addition to her professional work, Carter is a life-long community advocate. Her recent work includes consultations with the Racial Healing Institute (RHI), development of the second citizen review board in the state of Iowa, and advancing Make It OK, a campaign to destigmatize mental illness.
“The opportunity to participate in and help preserve the important histories and contributions of African Americans is something that feels especially poignant in this moment. The task ahead is to ensure the important programming of the Museum is not only sustained but enlarged so that we can better meet the moment. I look forward to leading the Museum into a new era of meaning.”
Carter has partnered with and supported the Museum previously, coordinating Make It OK programming at the Museum, and loaning objects to and sharing family history for the 2021-2022 exhibit, Mapping Exclusion: Redlining in Iowa. This spring, Carter’s daughter, Evelyn Carter PhD, has a scheduled talk at the Museum about her book, Was That Racist: How to Detect, Interrupt, and Unlearn Bias in Everyday Life (Thursday, June 11, 6:30PM, blackiowa.org/events).
“We are proud to welcome Anne Harris Carter as the next Executive Director of the African American Museum of Iowa! Anne brings a deep passion for preserving and celebrating Black history, along with a strong commitment to community engagement and relationship-building across Iowa. Her leadership, vision, and dedication to the Museum’s mission will help continue expanding our impact and inspiring future generations across Iowa. I am excited for this next chapter and look forward to working together to further elevate the Museum’s presence and connection throughout our communities as the only African American Museum in Iowa.” — Anthony Betters Jr, AAMI Board President.
The AAMI Board of Directors invites the public to join us in welcoming Ms. Carter to her new role. All are invited to join us for a welcome reception at the AAMI (55 12th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids) on Thursday, June 4, 4-6 PM.
