Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Named Nancy Seijas-Kipnis as Vice President for Strategic Communications and Marketing

April 24, 2024 – Sarasota

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens announced the appointment of Nancy Seijas-Kipnis, as Vice President for Strategic Communications and Marketing.

Since Kipnis’s arrival in this executive leadership role, her priorities have included implementing strategies for the future expansion of Selby Gardens, which encompass a three-phase Master Plan for its Downtown Sarasota campus. Kipnis led the marketing and communications strategies for Selby Gardens’ Phase One January inauguration, a $52 million expansion that will make Selby Gardens the first net-positive energy botanical complex in the world, creating more energy than it uses.

With more than two decades of experience as a leader of communications, marketing, and public affairs, Ms. Kipnis emerged as the top choice from an impressive pool of prospects. Kipnis’s experience spans a diversity of industries, including arts and culture, government, urban revitalization, culinary arts, and lifestyle brands.

Kipnis also brings years of museum and exhibition experience to Selby Gardens’ Museum of Botany & the Arts, which highlights nature-related art exhibits that are part of its Living Museum® model. Past exhibits have focused on artists such as Andy Warhol, Marc Chagall, and artist in residence Patti Smith. Currently under Kipnis’s purview is, Yayoi Kusama: A Letter to Georgia O’Keeffe.

“Nancy brings tremendous energy to our team, and her insight and knowledge is inspirational—especially in strengthening and directing Selby Gardens global positioning as one of the world’s preeminent botanical research and garden complexes,” said Jennifer Rominiecki, President, and CEO of Selby Gardens. “Nancy is a masterful marketer and publicist, earning frequent placements with The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Vanity Fair, New York Magazine, and Vogue, among other national and international outlets. In addition to her exceptional leadership skills, at the core of her qualifications is a passion for mission-driven organizations, like Selby Gardens, and the ability to convey strategic communications messages to target audiences through creative influence. Her work speaks for itself.”

Kipnis, who is no stranger to brick-and-mortar projects, was part of the leadership team that opened the Stanley Saitowitz designed Tampa Museum of Art (2009) where she worked for more than a decade. She has also worked with countless public and private entities that have contributed to the urban revitalization of Downtown Tampa and the enrichment of the Tampa Bay region.