The Linda Hall Names Dr. Jacob Campbell Senior Vice President of Research and Collections
Accomplished museum scholar and research leader joins executive team to shape the future of research, collections, and scientific inquiry at The Linda Hall.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Linda Hall: Science Library and Arboretum is pleased to announce that Jacob Campbell, Ph.D., joined the institution as senior vice president of research and collections.
In this new role on The Linda Hall’s Executive Leadership team, Campbell will provide strategic leadership for the Library's research, scholarship, collections, and curatorial activities. He will oversee the institution's library services, fellowship programs, special collections, and arboretum while helping shape a forward-looking vision for how The Linda Hall's extraordinary resources can advance scientific understanding, public engagement, and scholarly discovery in the decades ahead.
Campbell will work across the institution to integrate research and collections strategies with exhibitions, educational programs, engagement initiatives, and institutional priorities. He will also guide future collection development, strengthen support for researchers and fellows, and help position The Linda Hall as a leading voice in conversations about science, discovery, and the future of research.
Campbell joins The Linda Hall from the Keller Science Action Center at the Field Museum in Chicago, where he was an environmental anthropologist and led the center's social science team for the Chicago region. His work focuses on understanding the relationships between people, place, and the natural world, using research to inform biodiversity conservation, land management, and the design of public spaces.
“Jacob's appointment strengthens The Linda Hall at a defining moment in its history,” said Eric Dorfman, Ph.D., president and CEO of The Linda Hall. “He brings distinguished scholarship, a record of successful institutional partnerships, and a conviction that research should serve the public good. As we broaden our reach and deepen our impact, his leadership of research and collections will be central to that work. We are delighted to welcome him to the executive team.”
Throughout his career, Campbell has built partnerships among museums, universities, public agencies, and community organizations to advance research with tangible impact. He helped establish the Field Museum's Roots & Routes Initiative in partnership with the Chicago Park District and a network of community leaders, and he has led collaborative efforts that strengthen both environmental stewardship and community well-being.
In addition to his leadership in the Science Action Center, Campbell served as adjunct curator of anthropology at the Field Museum. He also was a lecturer in the Anthropology Department at the University of Illinois-Chicago and is a research fellow with the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His approach to research has been shaped by more than two decades of work with communities ranging from the Zuni Tribe and U.S. Gulf Coast fishing communities to Trinidadian oilfield workers. He earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees in anthropology from the University of Arizona.
“I am thrilled to be joining The Linda Hall in this new role and have great expectations for what the institution will accomplish in the coming years,” Campbell said. “Building on a powerful legacy and established foundation, there is vast potential for The Linda Hall to expand its influence in the world. I look forward to working alongside talented colleagues and partners as we chart this course together.”
Campbell's appointment comes at a pivotal moment for The Linda Hall. As the institution celebrates its 80th anniversary and launches a new brand identity, it is pursuing an ambitious vision that broadens public engagement, expands access to science, and leverages its collections, research expertise, exhibitions, and arboretum to inspire discovery and lifelong learning.
In his new role, Campbell will lead the teams responsible for fellowship programs, special collections, library services, and arboretum operations, while helping define and advance the institution’s influential role in the future of scientific research. His experience working at the intersection of scholarship, collections stewardship, public engagement, and organizational leadership will help guide The Linda Hall as it continues to expand its impact in Kansas City and beyond.
About The Linda Hall: Science Library and Arboretum
Founded in 1946, The Linda Hall is a science library and arboretum where curiosity leads to discovery. Through exhibitions, research, public programs, educational initiatives, and extraordinary collections, The Linda Hall explores the ways scientific ideas continue to shape our lives, communities, and future. Open to all, The Linda Hall invites visitors to uncover the stories behind innovation, connect with the human side of science, and unleash their curiosity. Learn more at lindahall.org.
