Jeff Carr

Executive Director

 

Highlights:

• Worked at MOI since 2017, current position since 2023
• Degree in English (Utah State), master’s in Russian Studies (Stanford)
• Work experience in foreign affairs, journalism, PR
• Taught college-level humanities
• Board service includes City Club of Idaho Falls, IF Historic Downtown Foundation, Teton Regional Land Trust
• Mayor’s Choice Award for Outstanding Community Education (City of IF), Distinguished Under 40 Award (Greater IF Chamber of Commerce)

Profile:

Q: Explain what you do at the museum in 20 words or less.

Jeff: Work with an incredible team to make sure we’re constantly improving in our ability to serve the community.

Q: What’s a museum-related accomplishment that you’re particularly proud of?

Jeff: Being able to expand our capacity by expanding our team with some really good hires in the last few years.

Q: What do you do for fun?

Jeff: I think I’m supposed to say tennis and hiking, but it’s honestly all about hanging out with my wife and kids, exploring new places, and bonding over stuff like Zelda and The Simpsons. Also, this is the job, but frankly, it’s really fun to work with people I love to create exciting new cultural offerings for my hometown.

Q: What would you do for a career if you weren’t doing this (and if money were no object)?

Jeff: Investigative journalism, travel writing, or reporting for something like The Atlantic — if I could get it.

Q: What’s the weirdest / most interesting past job you’ve had?

Jeff: Most interesting was definitely my time as a Russia/East Europe analyst in DC. I got to do some cool things, like travel and live abroad under cover, brief in the White House Situation Room, and have a decent impact on US foreign policy in a couple areas.

Q: Name a setback in your life that has ended up being a good thing.

Jeff: I got into a prestigious Eastern college out of high school, but on deferral, meaning I had to wait a year. That didn’t end up working out, so I lost my spot. Going there would have been amazing on paper, but looking back, I probably would have become an insufferable twerp if I had gone there as a teenager. Instead, I went to nearby Utah State, met my wife, got a great education, grew up a little, had the time of my life with wonderful friends, and then got a full-ride at a name-brand school for my master’s. (I realize this answer reeks of privilege. I have been very fortunate.)

Q: What’s something – large or small, useful or not – that you’re really good at?

Jeff: Languages and geography. I spend too much time on Wikipedia.

Q: What were you like in high school?

Jeff: Skinny and somewhat acne-ridden. Involved in things like tennis, scholastic team, a cappella, and academic clubs that somehow didn’t improve my social standing.

Q: What’s your favorite book, movie, and TV show?

Jeff:

Book: The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

Movie: A Few Good Men or Everything is Illuminated. Or almost anything by Wes Anderson or John Hughes.

TV Show: Community, 30 Rock, The Simpsons, or The West Wing

Q: Tell us something about you that might surprise us.

Jeff: My college friends and I took up curling (the ice sport) on a whim, started a club, and competed in the National College Championships in Chicago. It did not vault us to fame and fortune.