Charlayne Murrell-Smith is Vice President Corporate Development & External Relations at the Boston Children’s Museum, a position she has held since April 1996.  In this capacity she oversees all communications functions to enhance the visibility and awareness of the Museum’s mission and brand, including marketing, public, and government relations, visual and verbal identity/messaging, website and social network initiatives. She is also responsible for corporate fundraising and the development/stewardship of a comprehensive array of sponsorships and partnerships that help underwrite the Museum’s innovative exhibitions and programs.

Prior to joining the Museum, Charlayne was Director of Client Services and Strategic Planning for the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce where she was responsible for the coordination and delivery of programs and services to Chamber members and was chief operating officer. She has also served as Project Vice President and General Manager of the Wishnow Group, Inc., a public affairs consulting company specializing in local and national social issues campaigns; Community Affairs Director of WHDH-AM and WZOU-FM; and was a guidance counselor in the Cambridge and Newton Public Schools. 

A native of Denver, Colorado, Charlayne holds degrees from Wellesley College and Northeastern University.  Her current affiliations include the Boards’ of Directors of the Boston Children’s Chorus, The Boston Harbor Association, The Lenny Zakim Fund, Third Sector New England, the YMCA of Greater Boston, and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network. She is a member of the American Association of Museums and the Association of Children’s Museums.

Charlayne received a 2002 Pinnacle Award for achievement in non-profit management from the Women’s Network of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and was recognized as one of the Leading Women 2000 by Patriots’ Trail Girl Scout Council.               

She resides in Roxbury, MA.