The City of Gastonia has named Schiele Museum Assistant Director Tony E. Pasour, M.P.A., as the new Director of the Schiele Museum of Natural History, replacing longtime director, Dr. V. Ann Tippitt, who retired after 37 years of service to the City.
In accordance with the terms of the agreement between the City and the Schiele, a search committee was formed for the purpose of recommending a candidate to the City Manager to become the next Director of the Schiele Museum. The committee included the City Attorney, along with four individuals selected by the City Manager, and five individuals selected by the Museum’s Board of Directors.
The City received many applications from across the nation and after conducting a detailed review of the applicants the committee voted unanimously to recommend Mr. Pasour to become the next Director of the Schiele Museum.
“Throughout his thirty-plus years at the Schiele, Tony Pasour has been an innovator and leader,” said Jami Farris, chair of the Board of Trustees. “No one loves the Schiele Museum more than Tony, and I am excited to watch and to support him as he steers the organization into its next phase.”
Pasour is a 1991 graduate of Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science in History and in 2025 earned a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in nonprofit management from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He holds a certification in Executive Leadership from Duke University and is a member of the North Carolina City and County Management Association.
“The Schiele Museum has provided me with incredible life experiences and a dream career in public service,” Pasour said. “My experience with The Schiele began in childhood through school field trips and frequent visits with my grandmother.”
Pasour began his museum career in 1993, working for the Museum Board as an outreach educator developing and presenting museum-based educational programs to students across the Carolinas. In 2000, Pasour joined the City of Gastonia as Head of Education for the museum. He was promoted to Head of Interpretation in 2010 and was named Assistant Director in 2023.
“Early in my career, I returned with students of my own as a summer camp counselor and local schoolteacher,” Pasour continued. “After joining The Schiele, I was able to grow as a museum professional, working with all three of the museum’s previous directors for more than three decades. I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as the next leader of this distinguished organization.”
Along with managing museum services on a progressively growing scale, Pasour has had a “thrillingly diverse” experience during his time at The Schiele. He enjoyed teaching thousands of students as a guest presenter across Western North Carolina, bringing the collections of the museum into classrooms without access to a museum.
“Tony has been an integral part of the Schiele Museum’s success for more than 30 years,” said City Manager Michael Peoples. “Under his leadership, we’ll continue to see the Schiele attract visitors from all over and inspire the next generation of scientists and science enthusiasts.”
Back at The Schiele, he developed programs that are museum mainstays including summer day camps, large-scale public events, and an afterschool enrichment program that began as a response to the COVID-19 crisis. Pasour’s exhibit projects include two decades of diverse projects, ranging from swamps to rainforests, reptiles to pirates.
His most recent project was to lead the development and implementation of the new Elizabeth Williams Robinson Hall of Dinosaurs, which opened to visitors in September. Along the way, Pasour managed the James H. Lynn Planetarium, helped replicate historic structures, led excursions in search of dinosaur fossils, and wrangled various live animals including alligators, opossums, and even bison.
Pasour will officially begin his new role on Monday, November 9, 2026.
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Gastonia, N.C., just minutes west of Charlotte, is one of the area’s best places to live and work with an ideal combination of location, size, and livability. Gastonia is the largest of Gaston County’s 13 municipalities and one of the largest cities in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Selected as an All-America City three times, Gastonia’s desirable quality of life is the result of its beautiful natural surroundings, friendly neighborhoods, responsive government, and vibrant business environment.
The Schiele Museum is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits and research. As a regional attraction that inspires curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world, the Schiele serves a growing audience, attracting at least 125,000 visitors annually.