BALTIMORE, MD — September 24, 2026 — The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture today announced the appointment of Travis E. Mitchell as its next President, marking the next chapter for Maryland’s largest museum dedicated to documenting, preserving and sharing African American history and culture.
Mitchell will succeed President Terri Lee Freeman, who announced her planned retirement earlier this year following six years of distinguished leadership. The leadership transition will take place in November 2026.
Mitchell was selected following a national search led by a search committee established by the Museum’s Board of Directors. The process drew a large and highly qualified pool of candidates from across the country.
A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, and a graduate of Morgan State University, Mitchell brings more than three decades of experience spanning public media, nonprofit leadership, education, business development, and cultural storytelling. He currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Content Officer at Maryland Public Television (MPT), overseeing content across the statewide public television network’s broadcast and digital platforms. During his tenure, MPT has achieved year-over-year growth in viewership and impressions across its on-air and digital platforms. Under Mitchell’s leadership, MPT has been nominated for 195 Emmy Awards and has earned 79 Emmys from the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
“Travis distinguished himself throughout a thoughtful and competitive national search,” said Kim Mumby Green, Chair of the Board of Directors of The Lewis Museum. “He brings a powerful combination of executive leadership, cultural stewardship, storytelling expertise, and a deep understanding of Maryland. His career reflects a commitment to preserving and sharing the stories of Black communities and an understanding of the responsibility that comes with leading an institution like The Lewis. Terri Lee Freeman has built an extraordinary foundation during her tenure, and the Board is confident that Travis will build on that foundation while bringing his own leadership and perspective to expand the Museum’s reach and impact.”
Since joining MPT in 2020, Mitchell has helped lead the creation of nationally distributed content exploring African American history and culture. This includes MPT’s production and presentation of PBS films, Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom, Becoming Frederick Douglass, and Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect, which earned a national Emmy nomination. He also founded HBCU Week NOW, an MPT multiplatform, public media initiative dedicated to sharing the history, legacy, and contemporary relevance of historically Black colleges and universities. As an executive producer, Mitchell is a six-time regional Emmy recipient and nine-time Telly Award winner.
Mitchell’s career also includes executive leadership at UNC-TV, now PBS North Carolina, and the Black Family Channel, where he helped grow the network’s distribution from two cities to more than 3,600 cities, 48 states, and 31 million homes. He previously served as President of Communities In Schools of Wake County, combining his media experience with a longstanding commitment to education and community engagement.
Mitchell has deep ties to Maryland and Baltimore across his education, career and community service. He earned his bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Morgan State University, and a master’s degree in entrepreneurship and education from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. He completed executive education at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and has maintained longstanding ties to Morgan State, including service on the University’s Foundation Board, and as Chair of the Board of Visitors for its School of Global Journalism and Communication. Mitchell also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, the oldest HBCU in the South.
“I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to lead the Reginald F. Lewis Museum and to build upon the tremendous work of Terri Lee Freeman, the Museum’s staff and its Board of Directors,” said Travis E. Mitchell. “The Lewis has an extraordinary responsibility to preserve and promote Black history and culture, while helping people understand how these stories continue to shape Maryland and our nation today. I look forward to listening, learning and working alongside the Museum’s staff, supporters, partners and communities to expand the ways we educate, engage, and tell these essential stories.”
Mitchell’s appointment builds upon a period of significant growth and transformation under Freeman’s leadership. Since becoming President in 2020, Freeman has guided the Museum through its post-pandemic recovery and renewed growth, expanded its community presence and partnerships, and invested in new ways to reach audiences across Maryland. Her tenure has included the Museum’s 20th anniversary, the acclaimed TITAN: The Legacy of Reginald F. Lewis exhibition, the opening of the Museum’s first satellite gallery, and significant investments in the Museum’s brand and digital presence.
“From the beginning, I have believed deeply in the power and importance of this institution and the people who make its work possible,” said Terri Lee Freeman. “I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together and of the strong foundation that exists for The Lewis Museum’s future. Travis E. Mitchell brings tremendous media experience in storytelling, education, leadership and community engagement, and I look forward to supporting a smooth transition, and watching The Lewis continue to grow in the years ahead.”
Mitchell’s experience using storytelling and education to broaden access to history and culture will support The Lewis as it continues creating opportunities for education, dialogue and connection. His experience with digital and multiplatform storytelling will also help expand the Museum’s reach to audiences throughout Maryland and beyond.
“The Lewis has always been more than a building,” Mitchell said. “It is a place where history and culture are preserved and promoted, stories are shared, communities come together and future generations can see themselves reflected in the American story. I am excited about what we will build together while remaining firmly grounded in the mission and legacy that have made this institution so important.”
For more information, contact Crystal Turner | Director of Communications & External Relations at crystal.turner@lewismuseum.org or visit www.lewismuseum.org.