McLean Community Center Selects New Executive Director

MCLEAN, VA — The McLean Community Center's governing board on Wednesday approved the appointment of Betsy May-Salazar as its new executive director, Fairfax County announced Thursday.

May-Salazar, a long-time resident of McLean, will take over the position on Jan. 3. She will succeed acting director Evan Braff.

The previous head of the McLean Community Center, Daniel Phoenix Singh, resigned in July after serving as executive director since May 2021, when he succeeded George Sachs, who retired after 11 years of leading the community center.

In her most recent position, May-Salazar served as senior vice president and chief operating officer of the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. She had worked for the National Building Museum in various positions since 1995.

“Her extensive experience managing operations, strategic planning and development of compelling programs for the public, along with her longstanding ties to McLean, position her well,” MCC Board Chair Barbara Zamora-Appel said in a statement Thursday. “I look forward to working with Betsy to expand our reach, cultivate partnerships and make the McLean Community Center the best it can be for our community.”

The McLean Community Center was built and is funded by residents of the McLean area through a real estate tax surcharge. MCC offers activities for adults, teens and children, including a wide range of classes, lectures, study tours, camps, art exhibits, theater performances and specialty shows.

An eleven-member governing board, elected by citizens of the McLean area, oversees the community center. After elections are held for the board, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors must certify the results and formally appoint the new governing board members.

The center sponsors community activities and events and includes the 383-seat Alden Theatre, McLean Project for the Arts galleries, studios, meeting and conference space, classrooms and a commercial kitchen. MCC also operates the award-winning Old Firehouse Center, the first-of-its-kind space for teens in Fairfax County.

In her role as senior vice president and COO of the National Building Museum, May-Salazar was responsible for all operations and financial oversight, managing an annual budget of more than $8 million and serving as chief of staff.

Prior to her work at the National Building Museum, May-Salazar was program director of the Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, where she was responsible for planning programs including community outreach and educational programs, publications, exhibitions, annual design awards and lecture series.

May-Salazar has a bachelor’s in philosophy in interdisciplinary studies from Miami University and a master’s in arts in American studies from George Washington University.