Honoring Chris Zachow

Chris Zachow, center, former MMNSF President, celebrating her retirement with current and past board members from left to right: Ashley Parker, Avery Rollins, Jackie Bailey, Sheila Smith, Susan Frazier (MMNSF Executive Director), Janice Larson, Opal Dakin, and LoRose Moore (Board Chair)

Honoring Chris Zachow
From Childhood Wonder to Lasting Legacy

by J.T. Mitchell, MMNSF Board Member

Museums have been part of Chris Zachow’s life for as long as she can remember.

Some of her fondest memories date back to when she was a young child growing up in Maryland when her father would load up the car with her and her brothers and make the short trip to Washington, D.C., where they would spend all day sifting through the Smithsonians along the National Mall.

“My dad worked as a ticket-seller, so he was on nights and weekends a lot. To give my mom a break from me and my brothers, he would take us to the Smithsonians, and we would go to all of them. It was great,” Zachow recounted. “I remember the push-button room, all the gems, the dinosaurs, and the art. It was a lot of fun to be able to do that and run free like that. There were always things to see and learn from.”

Zac Zachow, Dr. Steve Zachow, Chris Zachow, and Dr. Kim Zachow; not pictured Alix Zachow

Zachow never lost that childhood love for museums and the ever-giving knowledge each one offers. When she became an adult, moved to Mississippi, and started a family, she took a page from her father’s book and exposed not only her husband but also their children to every museum possible both locally and anywhere they would travel to. One local option quickly stood out among the rest: the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.

After countless trips to the old MMNS location at the fairgrounds, where Zachow and her family made plenty of memories exploring Mississippi’s wilderness through the dioramas and aquariums and watching the bees in their hives, she was offered a chance to play a key role in the future of MMNS and its then-new, and current, location at LeFleur’s Bluff State Park.

“The museum’s former director, Libby Hartfield, and I had met each other a couple of times. I had helped out with some stuff, and my kids and I had come a lot. I had twins, and people remember twins,” Zachow explained. “Libby came to me, we talked, and she asked if I wanted to be on the board. I said yes with no hesitation.”

In 2002, Zachow officially joined the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Foundation Board of Directors. She was tasked with helping the supporting nonprofit secure funding through museum memberships and donations for future exhibits, education programs, and research. And she did a great job, too! Her hard work resulted in her being elected as the MMNSF Board’s vice president and then president in 2007.

Zachow – who since joining has served in “at least” most capacities the MMNSF Board offers, including treasurer and chair of the nominating committee – has put in over two decades of work to ensure MMNS can thrive.

Chris with a mammoth tusk at a Member Pop-Up party

From traveling to Washington to request federal funding to working with U.S. Customs to bring a must-see dinosaur exhibit across the ocean to purchasing waders needed by researchers for field work, there are countless examples that only begin to showcase what she’s done to bring a smile to thousands of children and adults alike.

She was also integral to the MMNS and MMNSF being able to return to operations and to steadily increase visitation each year, with near pre-pandemic numbers in FY24, after experiencing a months-long, forced shutdown in 2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

“I kept it running during the pandemic,” Zachow said when asked to share one of her proudest moments as MMNSF Board president. “But outside of that, being on the board has allowed me to do so many fun things that I never would have been able to do. I really do love this museum. I love the staff. People don’t realize all they do as well – all while having fun.”

Chris Zachow and former Museum Director Charles Knight (center) at the Space exhibit Premiere party with exhibit sponsors from Regions Bank and Trustmark.

Speaking of the fun that happens at MMNS, some of Zachow’s favorite exhibits that she’s helped land include “The Science of Ripley’s Believe It or Not” in 2018 and “Space: A Journey to Our Future” in 2022. She especially loves the pop-up events the museum often hosts – events that include opossums teaching physics, turkeys trotting around the theater room, and Santa Claus diving into the aquarium to feed the fish!

“We’ve made some really good memories,” she said.

In 2024, Zachow led the charge on a strategic restructuring of MMNSF and brought aboard nonprofit professional Susan Frazier as executive director. The role of president was dissolved and Frazier, with guidance from Zachow, took over the organization’s leadership duties as Zachow looked toward a December 2025 retirement.

“It was a really good decision. The best decision I made in all those years was to get Susan involved to lead the foundation. Now, I can sail off into the sunset,” Zachow said.

As Zachow’s official retirement date of Dec. 31 nears, the MMNS and MMNSF have been taking time to celebrate her contributions. Earlier this month, a room packed full of current and previous MMNSF Board members, MMNS staff, and Zachow’s friends and family held a reception in her honor. Zachow, a turtle lover, was presented with a sawback turtle watercolor by local artist, and former MMNS special exhibits supervisor, Sam Beibers.

Left to Right: Susan Frazier, Museum Director Angel Rohnke, Chris Zachow, Gloria Walker, and Kelly Headley

“Chris’ decades-long dedication and service to the museum have been a tremendous gift,” Frazier said. “From her board leadership to her stewardship to sharing her enthusiasm for the work of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, she has excelled, and we’re so grateful for her.”

While Zachow will soon retire and plans to spend a lot of that free time visiting museums across the country, she won’t be a stranger to the MMNS. In fact, you may see her just as much if not more.

“I’ll probably visit even more than I do now,” she said, smiling big. “This is a great place.”

Rockell "Rock" Ingram, MMNSF Board of Directors

Meet Rock Ingram, MMNSF Board of Directors

Rockell “Rock” Ingram is a proud Mississippi native who grew up in Shaw, a small town in the heart of the Delta known for its spirit of “Striving Hard and Working.”

During his junior year of high school at Shaw High, Rock joined the Army National Guard to help pay for college, ultimately serving 12 years. Before earning his degree in Electrical Engineering from Mississippi State University, he served a year in Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He later earned his MBA from Millsaps College, further strengthening his expertise and commitment to professional growth.

Rock’s career has taken him across the Southeast, and he currently serves as a Senior Regulatory Analyst at Entergy Mississippi.

He has been a dedicated board member of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Foundation since 2024. The Museum holds a special place in his heart, serving as a meaningful space where he and his son, Christian, continue to make memories and volunteer together. As his son has grown and developed a deeper appreciation for STEM, their time at the Museum has become even more rewarding. One of Rock’s favorite activities is operating the Museum’s resident mechanical dinosaur during special events.

In addition to his work with the Museum, Rock is currently serving as an Associate Board member for Statewide Federal Credit Union, a role he began in March 2025. He also serves as the current President of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy, where he is committed to advancing diversity and leadership in the energy sector.

His commitment to service extends throughout the community: you’ll find him volunteering at his church, serving meals at GateWay Rescue Mission of Jackson, and preparing taxes for the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program during tax season.

Whether he’s inspiring curiosity in young visitors, supporting his community’s most vulnerable, or helping families with their finances, Rock is passionate about giving back and making a positive impact.

Chris Zachow, Treasurer, MMNSF Board of Directors

Meet Chris Zachow, Treasurer, MMNSF Board of Directors

When I was a child, my father often worked evenings and weekends. To give my mother a much-needed break, he would take my two younger brothers and I into Washington D.C. from our home in Maryland.

There, we would visit the many Museums, which were free back then. We saw so many fascinating exhibits, we saw all the magnificent gems, the First Ladies’ gowns, the air and space exhibits, famous paintings and sculptures, multiple fossils, the stuffed elephant in the Smithsonian entrance foyer, and dinosaur exhibits.  It was a wonderful time to see and to learn.

Museums remained a fascination for me as I grew older. When my children were young, I chose our vacation destinations by what Museums we could visit. And I still do.

Living in Jackson with children, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science was a welcome get away, and we loved the old Museum. We could see the alligators in the center, and then we could watch the bees in their hives. The dioramas were so detailed and fed the imagination of all of us.  Then, the new Museum was built on LeFleur’s Bluff and it was wonderful! The aquariums, the fossils, the dioramas, the trails, and the traveling exhibits!  Something new for us to go see twice a year!

I was honored when Libby Hartfield asked me to be on the Board of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Foundation in 2002.  I was there listening and learning when the then President, George Allen, moved out of state and I became Board President in 2007.  It was a lot of work but a lot of fun. The years flew by. In 2023 I realized we needed a professional to lead the MMNS Foundation forward.  We restructured our organization and hired Susan Frazier to be the Executive Director in 2024. A wonderful decision if I do say so.   I have moved into the role of Treasurer on the Board and will retire at the end of 2025. I’ll dearly miss the fine folks who work for and who serve on the MMNS Foundation Board.

 It’s been such an incredible experience and I treasure every moment of it. The Museum Directors I worked with, Libby, Charles, and Angel were incredible in their dedication to the museum and to its staff.  Their direction and perseverance made the MMNS a wonderful place to enjoy and to learn. The staff is incredible with their varied talents as educators, imagineers, problem solvers, scientists and also in their role as representatives of our state to visitors from all over the world. I can’t say enough of the quality of the staff and its leaders. They are truly remarkable.  Mississippi is blessed to have them.

The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science will always be my favorite museum.  But I already have plans to visit a  couple more museums as my husband and I enjoy our  retirement.  

ABOUT CHRIS

Chris Zachow grew up in Virgina, Maryland, and New Jersey before attending Birmingham-Southern Alabama.

She's married to Dr. Steve Zachow and is the mother of three grown children: Kim, an OB-GYN with Baptist Clinic for Women in Jackson; Alix, a College Instructor at UH in Houston; and Zac, a Project Manager at Nvent (formerly Avail Electrical) in Richland.

When she's not at the Museum, she is a water aerobics instructor at the Y and is enjoying retirement with her husband. They plan to travel and enjoy more museums around the country.

Susanne Still, MMNSF Board Member

Meet Susanne Still, MMNSF Board Member

Susanne Sturdivant Still was born and raised in Greenwood, Mississippi, graduating from Pillow Academy. Susanne graduated from Auburn University in 2013 where she received a B.S. in Hotel and Restaurant Management and a minor in Business Administration. She went on to Reformed Theological Seminary where she received a M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling in 2016.

Susanne is a Licensed Professional Counselor and is the owner of Susanne Still LPC - a counseling service which opened in 2020 located in Ridgeland, Mississippi. In 2016, Susanne began volunteering for The Net Counseling and Mentoring - a Jackson­ based non-profit, providing support and encouragement through counseling and mentoring. She later went on to serve as a Board Member of The Net Counseling and Mentoring from 2020 until 2024, heading up The Net's fundraising efforts.

Susanne is active in the community and is a member of Madison Heights Church in Madison, Mississippi. She also enjoys being a group fitness instructor at Gluckstadt Fitness.

Susanne and her husband, Jon, have two children, Nate and Arden.

Susanne enjoys serving the MMNS Foundation as a Board Member.