Leni Leon
THE Northern Mariana Islands Museum of History and Culture Board of Governors is pleased to announce the appointment of Leonard “Leni” Leon as executive director.
Leon, who is of Marshallese descent, immigrated to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in 1990 and has since called Saipan home. His passion for Chamorro, Carolinian and Pacific Island histories and cultures is rooted in his exposure to the CNMI’s rich and diverse communities.
Leon studied film and cultural anthropology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa where he co-founded the Micronesia Connections Club and a community series on O’lelo Hawaii, aimed at addressing racism against Micronesians in Hawaii through discussions surrounding Micronesian, Polynesian, and Melanesian kinship.
Leon brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the position as a strategic planner and grant writer/manager, having worked to hone his knowledge and skills with some of the most respected professionals, cultural practitioners and scholars across the Pacific. His most recent work managing projects and grants at the CNMI Office of Planning and Development make him an excellent candidate for advancing the NMI Museum’s legal mandates and mission. At OPD, Leon successfully managed the Tyler EnerGov permitting module, and later two separate FEMA–Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant awards. He is known amongst his peers and colleagues for his innovative approaches to solving complex challenges.
Within the arts and culture communities, Leon is recognized as a dynamic cultural artist and advocate through his work as a shell carver, photographer, and filmmaker. Outside of the CNMI, Leon is best known for his independent photojournalism series which garnered the attention of global media, including Al Jazeera, Hawaii’s Civil Beat, and the Washington Post documenting the devastation and destruction to our islands following Super Typhoon Yutu.
“I am incredibly humbled and honored to be part of the NMI Museum Team. I hold great respect for the NMI Museum’s commitment to preserve and share Marianas history and heritage. I see the great opportunities for the Museum to bridge communities through culture, history, and art through collaboration with our local and Pacific-wide partners,” said Leni Leon.
According to Leo Pangelinan, the museum’s board chairperson, “the Board is looking forward to working in partnership with Mr. Leon to strengthen and elevate the NMI Museum as a community cultural pillar. We are excited to have someone of his caliber and experience to lead the stewardship of our cultural and historical artifacts and implement innovative programs and spaces for our local communities and visitors alike to learn from and appreciate our NMI history and culture.”
Leon assumes the position of executive director for the NMI Museum of History & Culture today, Monday, July 1, 2024. The mission of the museum is to acquire, interpret, and exhibit artifacts and other materials to increase public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the rich history and cultural traditions of the Northern Mariana Islands.
