The Noble Maritime Collection’s Board of Trustees has appointed Megan Beck as the new Executive Director of the museum. Ms. Beck brings more than a decade of experience at the institution and a deep commitment to interpreting New York Harbor’s maritime history through art, research, and public engagement.

“Megan Beck has been integral to the Noble Maritime Collection’s growth and intellectual vitality for more than a decade,” said Steve Kalil, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Her leadership and dedication to telling inclusive and historically grounded stories make her exceptionally well suited to guide the museum into its next chapter. The Board is confident that under her leadership, the Noble Maritime Collection will continue to thrive as a vital cultural institution for Staten Island and the region.”

Ms. Beck succeeds Ciro Galeno, Jr., who is departing after a transformational 20-year tenure with the organization. During his tenure, Mr. Galeno successfully navigated the first leadership transition in the Noble Maritime Collection’ history in 2018, managed the restoration of a Victorian-era ceiling mural in the museum’s landmarked building in 2023, and earlier this year, oversaw its admission to the New York City of Department of Cultural Affairs’ prestigious Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), a milestone that strengthened the museum’s long-term financial stability and public support.

“As a native Staten Islander and lover of art and maritime history, it was the honor of my life to lead the Noble Maritime Collection,” Mr. Galeno said.

He continued, “I am as dedicated to its mission now as I have ever been, and look forward to supporting the museum in new ways in this next chapter of my life.”

Mr. Galeno will volunteer his time as a consultant for the Noble Maritime Collection and stay active in the wider arts community, as he moves on to become Treasurer of Caddell Dry Dock and Repair Company in the new year.

Ms. Beck commented, “I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to lead the Noble Maritime Collection at this exciting moment in its history. In addition to the incredible recognition of our work with admission to the CIG—thanks to Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo—next year marks the 40th anniversary of the museum, which we will celebrate with the Ruby Anniversary Campaign. All donations to this campaign will be matched 2-to-1 by the Staten Island Foundation as part of the Diamond Matching Grant Program.”

Ms. Beck joined the Noble Maritime Collection as an intern 13 years ago and was quickly promoted to curator. She has developed extensive expertise in the work of the museum’s namesake, maritime artist John A. Noble (1913–1983), and is widely recognized as an authority on the history of Sailors’ Snug Harbor, the former 19th-century retirement facility now home to Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden.

Her groundbreaking research on the lives of people of color who lived and worked at Sailors’ Snug Harbor earned her admission to the NYC African American Institutions Convening, a collaborative network of cultural organizations facilitated by Dr. Ray Codrington, President and CEO of the Weeksville Heritage Center and a fellow Cultural Institutions Group colleague.

Ms. Beck holds a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from Pratt Institute and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations, with a concentration in cultural anthropology, from Boston University.

As curator, Beck has played a central role in shaping the museum’s exhibitions. Most recently, she curated We Who Are Weary, a major exhibition exploring untold stories in Sailors’ Snug Harbor history. She additionally provided research for the exhibition Daily Life at Sailors’ Snug Harbor in 2014, as well as research for Robbins Reef Lighthouse: A Home in the Harbor. She curated This is a Print in 2019 and E.F. Neilson (1865-1909): Paintings by a New Brighton artist in the Sailors’ Snug Harbor Collection in 2021, and co-curated Andrea Doria: Rescue at Sea in 2022 and Noble Industrial in 2024.

The Noble Maritime Collection is located in Building D, a former mariners’ dormitory at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, New York.

The museum is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday from 12 until 5 PM, during which time the auction preview exhibition can be viewed. Admission to the museum during regular gallery hours is by donation.

To learn more about this unique maritime museum, or for more information about the auction, call (718) 447-6490 or visit noblemaritime.org.