BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Dr. Lawrence J. Pijeaux, Jr., the man who has served at the helm of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) since July 1995, has announced he will retire at the end of 2013. The announcement was made at the annual BCRI Board of Directors meeting in September by Lajuana Bradford, board chair. He will remain at the BCRI in an interim role as a national search is conducted for the next president and CEO.
Under Pijeaux’s leadership, the BCRI achieved full accreditation from the American Association of Museums in July 2005. Since that time, the Institute has received two consecutive national awards presented at the White House by then first lady Laura Bush for community service: the Coming Up Taller Award in 2007 and the inaugural National Medal for Museum Service in 2008. In April of 2007, the BCRI was named an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. And in 2009, the facility underwent a $2.5 million dollar renovation.
Pijeaux has received numerous appointments and awards during his tenure at BCRI. Former Alabama Governor Bob Riley appointed him to the boards of the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science and the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel. In 2006, the Alabama Department of Tourism named him Alabama Tourism Executive of the Year. He is a member of Leadership Birmingham and Leadership Alabama, and is a past president of the Association of African American Museums. Pijeaux was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve on the National Museum and Library Services Board in March of 2010 and his nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate in June of 2010. He currently serves on the board of the American Alliance of Museums.
“Dr. Lawrence Pijeaux is a strong leader. He has done a great job of guiding the growth of the Institute and broadening the awareness of its mission to promote civil and human rights worldwide through education. His continued involvement with the Institute will help ensure that this transition will be seamless,” said Board Chair, Lajuana Bradford.
