Bill joined MIM in March 2007 after six years as Director of Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The MIM Board selected Bill after a nationwide search, citing his clear and focused leadership style, and passion for sharing the history and art of music with people of all ages. His unique experience, vision and leadership will help guide MIM in fulfilling its mission of celebrating the history and diversity of musical instruments and the music of cultures from every country of the world.

During his time at Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Bill made significant improvements to the collections and exhibits of the museum, advanced an ambitious institutional agenda for expansion and designed a strategic marketing campaign to heighten awareness of the museum - improving its stature as one of the country's premiere natural history enterprises. Bill also spearheaded a fundraising effort for museum expansion, programs and endowment that secured more than $50 million from foundations, individuals and the state and federal governments. Prior to and during his tenure at the museum, DeWalt was a Distinguished Service Professor of Public and International Affairs and during the period of 1993-2001, he served as director of the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Bill has a doctorate in Anthropology, an extensive list of publications and academic awards, speaks Spanish, and has lectured and taught at universities in the U.S., Latin America and Europe.

His wife, Sylvia Keller, is herself an experienced museum professional and will be involved as a consultant in a variety of special projects for MIM. Sylvia holds a Master of Public Management degree from the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University. She spent 17 years at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in several roles, including deputy director and interim director. Before joining MIM, Sylvia was the executive director of Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures.