‘This city really embraced me.’ Meet HistoryMiami museum’s first female CEO

When Natalia Crujeiras arrived in Miami from Mexico 20 years ago, she had little money, no connections and no nearby friends or family to lean on. Today, she made history with HistoryMiami Museum.

The museum announced Thursday that Crujeiras will be its next CEO, marking the first time in the museum’s 82-year history that a woman will helm the position. She starts the job Oct. 3.

Crujeiras said she is honored to be the museum’s first female CEO, especially as a Mexican immigrant.

“I feel very honored to be tasked with the responsibility. I think it’s an important message from the board of the museum and how they want to open space for more representation,” she told the Herald. “The fact that I’m not only a woman but I’m a Latina and an immigrant, I think speaks volumes of how rich and complex and interesting our city is.”

The museum’s trustees conducted a six-month search to fill the role after its previous CEO Jorge Zamanillo left to become the founding director of the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of the American Latino in Washington, D.C.

Crujeiras recently worked as the executive director of cultural affairs at Miami Dade College, managing a $10 million yearly budget and overseeing institutions like the Miami Book Fair, Freedom Tower and the Miami Film Festival.

As CEO, she will spearhead the museum’s efforts to find its new location for when it eventually leaves its current downtown space at 101 W. Flagler Street.

“Natalia is a high-energy change agent whose passionate commitment to highlighting and celebrating cultural and artistic resources will build upon HistoryMiami’s exceptional collection and continue to propel us forward in sharing our collective history with our community,” said John Shubin, the HistoryMiami Board of Trustees Chair, in a statement. “She is a remarkable communicator and educator with a clear vision as to how our history influences and shapes who we are and how we consider and address our current circumstances. We are so excited about HistoryMiami’s future under Natalia’s leadership.”

Crujeiras, who describes herself as “an American by chance and by choice,” said she has always been a history buff and has been fascinated with Miami’s story since immigrating here.

While living in Mexico, she earned her degree in visual arts in communications and was working in marketing when she wanted a change in career. She was passionate about studying journalism, but she was concerned about the violence journalists face in her home country.

At first, she considered going to school in Spain, but she won a scholarship that would only support her in the United States. When she was accepted to the University of Miami, she decided to take a leap of faith even though she didn’t have any connections to South Florida. Though she fell on hard times financially and at one point had to sell her car to pay tuition, she said the support from her family in Mexico got her through. The move to Miami was worth it.

“This city really embraced me and gave me opportunities to grow and prosper,” Crujeiras said.

As CEO, Crujeiras’ chief concern is making the museum as accessible as possible. When it comes to finding the museum’s new home, she said she is looking for a central location that is pedestrian friendly, close to public transportation and has plenty of parking.

But until then, she stressed the importance of eliminating barriers and promoting Miami’s rich diversity now.

As a mother to a neurodiverse child and relative to queer family members, Crujeiras said she wants HistoryMiami Museum to be a welcoming space that anyone can enjoy and learn despite the tense political climate.

“Museums provide context and provide a platform for these different points of view to come together,” she said. “HistoryMiami has the power to reflect and shape our community.”

This story was produced with financial support from The Pérez Family Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.

This story was originally published September 22, 2022 at 3:31 PM.