The National Women’s History Museum Welcomes Tena Clark and Carol McCarthy to Its Board of Directors

For Immediate Release
Media Contact

Alexandria, VA—Today, the National Women’s History Museum (NWHM) announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors: Tena Clark, CEO and chief creative officer of DMI Music & Media Solutions, and Carol McCarthy, executive vice president of Motion Agency.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Tena and Carol to our Board of Directors,” said Susan Whiting, chair of the NWHM Board of Directors. “These two women are extraordinary leaders in their fields and are champions of women’s representation. Our Museum will greatly benefit from their experience, expertise, and advocacy on behalf of women, and we look forward to working with them to advance our mission.”

  • Tena Clark is CEO and chief creative officer for DMI Music & Media Solutions. As one of the most influential female producers in the music industry and American media, Clark has written and produced for legends such as Aretha Franklin; won a Grammy for her work with Natalie Cole; was nominated for a Grammy with Patti LaBelle; and also worked with artists such as LeAnn Rimes, Dionne Warwick, Chaka Khan, and Maya Angelou, in addition to being commissioned to write theme songs for NASA and Hilary Clinton. Clark’s work spans film, television, stage, records, and brands. She has written award-winning songs and contributed to multi-platinum movie soundtracks and television shows, including Hope Floats, The Five Heart Beats, Where the Heart Is, My Best Friend’s Wedding, and Desperate Housewives.

    In addition to her work in the music industry, Clark is also a civil rights activist and crusader for women’s rights. The founder of VDay.org, Eve Ensler, asked Clark to write and produce their theme song, "Break the Chain," for the organization One Billion Risinga movement to end violence against women and girls. "Break the Chain" has become the most globally-performed song in history. Clark's first book, a memoir titled Southern Discomfort, was published by Touchstone, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, in October 2018.

    In addition to serving on the National Women History Museum’s Board of Directors, Clark also serves on the Committee of 200's Board and the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative Board.

  • Carol McCarthy, executive vice president of Motion Agency, was the founder and president of Remedy, a brand strategy and communications agency that specialized in healthcare. After decades of owning her business, she sold the agency to Motion in 2019. In her role as executive vice president for the healthcare practice, she leads strategy and planning projects and plays an active role working with clients and the team on major brand and marketing strategy initiatives.

    Early in her career, McCarthy held positions in consulting and overseeing clinical operations for hospitals. Her experience at the bedside as a nurse was a major influence on her professional work, and it significantly shaped her passion for non-profits and pro bono public health.

    In addition to the NWHM Board of Directors, McCarthy serves as a board member of the Loyola University Quinlan School of Business and the Medical Home Network. She has also served on the boards of the Arthritis Foundation of Illinois and the Michael Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. In 2013, McCarthy was awarded the Raymond C. Baumhart S.J., Award for Leadership, Ethics and Social Responsibility from Loyola University, Chicago, and in 2003, she was named Ernst and Young Illinois Entrepreneur of the Year in marketing and public relations.

The National Women’s History Museum Board of Directors provides leadership for delivering on NWHM’s mission to amplify women’s impact by uncovering, interpreting, and celebrating women’s diverse contributions to society. For a complete list of the NWHM Board of Directors, please visit womenshistory.org.

About the National Women's History Museum
Founded in 1996, the National Women’s History Museum (NWHM) is an innovative museum dedicated to uncovering, interpreting, and celebrating women’s diverse contributions to society. A renowned leader in women’s history education, the Museum brings to life the countless untold stories of women throughout history, and serves as a space for all to inspire, experience, collaborate, and amplify women’s impact—past, present, and future. We strive to fundamentally change the way women and girls see their potential and power.

The NWHM fills in major omissions of women in history books and K-12 education, providing scholarly content and educational programming for teachers, students, and parents. We reach more than four million visitors each year through our online content and education programming and, in March 2023, mounted our first physical exhibit at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in downtown Washington, DC, We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC. The Museum is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)3. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and visit us at womenshistory.org.