Ray Vandiver is the Executive Director at Discovery Lab, Tulsa’s  Children's museum.

Ray discovered his passion and talent for informal education while earning his Ph.D. in physics from Missouri University of Science and  Technology. While a graduate student, he joined a group of hands-on learning enthusiasts and helped create the Meramec Science and  Technology Learning Center. 

Ray has been a leader in informal education and exhibit design for over 25 years. He started his career in 1993 as the founding director of the Bootheel  Youth Museum (BYM) in Malden, Missouri—a National Medal winner awarded  by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Prior to moving to Tulsa, Ray served as a member of the senior leadership team at the  Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).  

Ray is also an artist and a musician. He and Donna have been married for  33 years and have a son, Aaron, who lives in Michigan.