At the Children's Museum, he has developed innovative collaborations among communities, schools, and the museum, including the creation of the Harcourt Teacher Leadership Center and an expanded Early Childhood Center as well as major new exhibitions on theater arts, environmental sciences, and world cultures.
 
For the past four years, the Children's Museum has been involved in a $45 million expansion and renovation project, adding a 23,000-square-foot structure to the museum's existing 150,000-square-foot building and creating a landscaped waterfront park.

Dr. Casagrande has served on the boards of Citizens Schools, The Boston Arts and Business Council, the Boston Foundation, the Irish Children's Museum in Dublin, and other civic organizations. He is the Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Museums and past President of the Association of Children's Museums. He is currently on the Advisory Board for the Harvard Extension School's Master of Liberal Arts in Museum Studies program.  
 
Prior to the Children's Museum, Dr. Casagrande was senior vice president at the Science Museum of Minnesota. During his seven-year tenure, Dr. Casagrande broadened its scope while achieving national success in producing acclaimed exhibitions, Omni Theater films, and community and statewide collaborations as well as a Museum Magnet School.
 
Louis Casagrande is the author/editor of numerous publications in anthropology and museum studies, including a book for children on Mexico. He received a Bachelor's Degree from Yale University, a Master's Degree from the American University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.