OMA Award Spotlight - Andy Aichele
Recognizing excellence in Ohio museums during Arts and Humanities Month
To help celebrate October as Arts and Humanities Month, and to kick-off the call for nominations for this year's OMA awards, we'll be highlighting our 2022 OMA Award of Achievement winners throughout the month with our OMA Award Spotlight. We are featuring these Award Winner Spotlights during Arts and Humanities Month to help champion the amazing projects, programs and professionals that make Ohio's museum community strong.
The Awards of Achievement are presented to reflect the outstanding quality and caliber of work by Ohio museums and their professionals in two categories: Institutional Achievement Awards and Individual Achievement Awards.
Nominations for these awards are incredibly detailed. This in-depth process helps to illustrate how these institutions and individuals have gone “above and beyond” the normal call of duty to support their institution, serve their public and advance the cause of the museum community.
Each year, the review panel is overwhelmed by the outstanding projects, innovative programming and dedication to our field as exhibited in each of the institutional and individual nominations. Congratulations again to each of our 2022 award winners!
Today, we'll be finishing up the celebration of this year's award winners by featuring the recipient of the 2023 award for Professional of the Year.
Andy Aichele - COSI
With over two decades of experience working in the museum field, Andy Aichele has spent his career empowering people who power both his museums and museums across the industry.
Andy started his career at COSI as a COSI on Wheels educator, traveling throughout the Midwest to spark excitement around STEM education. He quickly rose the ranks at COSI as the institution recognized his leadership, natural ability for strategic thinking, and his power to bring out the best in all who work with him.
Now the Senior Directory of Education Engagement at COSI, Andy leads COSI’s organization learning and development programming, ensuring that all employees of COSI have the tools and encouragement they need to maximize their potential.
Andy understands what it takes to not just lead people, but to empower them to become leaders themselves. He has built robust systems for professional development and goal setting, he is leading a transformation of COSI’s massive education programming, and he leads numerous external partnerships – all while sharing his talents with the Ohio museum and education industry at large AND maintaining a healthy work-life balance as a dedicated parent and spouse.
As one reviewer noted, “Andy Aichele helps represents the best of what we want the museum field to be. Not only has he shown a dedication to serving the public through his role at COSI, but he has also taken the time to make the field a better place for those working alongside him. He has taken innovative approaches to challenges, and values the input of both seasoned and up-and-coming colleagues.
His colleagues added, “his gift is helping others identify their gifts, strengthen those gifts, and share them with the world. Andy brings out the best in people, because he sees the best in people.”
Do you know someone who exudes outstanding leadership and professionalism, whose work leads to the continual growth and development of their organization? Be sure to nominate them for the 2023 award for Professional of the Year! Learn more here.