Children’s Discovery Museum director leaves for job at Advocate Health Care

Posted on October 16, 2017

Shelleigh Birlingmair has resigned as Executive Director of the Children’s Discovery Museum in Normal and the town’s Cultural Arts Department. She’s accepted a development position for Advocate Health Care. (File photo)

By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – The woman holding one of the highest profile positions in Normal town government is stepping down.

The town announced Monday the Executive Director of the Children’s Discovery Museum and Cultural Arts Department, Shelleigh Birlingmair, has resigned to accept a development position at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center and Advocate Eureka Hospital.

Birlingmair has been in her current position for only a year, but she said in a news release that she has aspired for years to do full-time development work, and her time at the Children’s Discovery Museum solidified her passion for working with non-profit organizations.

City Manager Mark Peterson said Birlingmair will be greatly missed, but he said the position at Advocate was an overwhelming opportunity for her.

Birlingmair’s duties running the Cultural Arts Department included overseeing operations at the Normal Theatre.

Peterson said there’s no timeline for naming Birlingmair’s replacement. He said plans and programs are well-established for the rest of this year and beyond.

Birlingmair’s resignation is effective at the end of this month.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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