With extensive experience at Ivy Tech and other institutions, Afriyie will manage museum’s finances 

Bright Afriyie is the new Chief Financial Officer of the Eiteljorg Museum.

Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025

INDIANAPOLIS – The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art has hired a new chief financial officer: Bright Afriyie, who brings more than a decade of experience spanning higher education, banking, analytic and financial operations.

A Muncie resident, Afriyie joined the Eiteljorg in December after serving as chief financial officer at Simmons College of Kentucky, a historically Black liberal arts institution in Louisville. Before that, Afriyie was vice chancellor of finance for the Anderson and Muncie campuses of Ivy Tech Community College, in which he managed budgets and oversaw accounting, procurement and capital projects.

In his new role as Eiteljorg CFO, Afriyie manages the museum’s accounting and finances, including its endowment and earned revenue areas that include guest services, the Frank and Katrina Basile Museum Store, museum café and event-venue rental business.

“With his experience in higher education and nonprofit finance and as an educator and data strategist, Bright Afriyie has extraordinary qualifications to serve as the Eiteljorg Museum’s next chief financial officer,” Eiteljorg President and CEO Kathryn Haigh said. “His approach to finance emphasizes collaboration, transparency and data-informed decision-making, which are important qualities as the museum positions itself for the future.”

Afriyie holds a Master of Science in statistics from Ball State University, and a Bachelor of Science in mathematics with a minor in economics from the University of Mines and Technology in Ghana. He earned a certificate in financial accounting from Harvard Business School. Afriyie is currently pursuing a Master of Science in data science at Ball State focusing on predictive analytics, automation and integration of technology into financial strategy.

Earlier in his career, he worked in banking and financial operations with Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited and was managing director and CFO of a family-owned foreign exchange trading firm, leading multi-currency operations across several global markets.

“My leadership philosophy is simple: Finance is about people, purpose and progress. I believe that institutions thrive when fiscal systems empower people — employees, donors, and communities — to contribute meaningfully toward shared goals,” Afriyie said. “At the Eiteljorg Museum, I look forward to working alongside museum leadership to sustain financial growth, strengthen operational infrastructure and expand philanthropic capacity to preserve and elevate Native and Western American arts and cultures for future generations.”

Bright Afriyie is originally from Ghana’s Bono Region, and he and his wife Lily are parents of two children, Alysha and Bliss. Lily Afriyie is assistant professor of mathematics at Ivy Tech, and together the couple co-founded the Help A Student Foundation (HELPAS) that assists international students who have financial or other needs. Bright and Lily also operate Proton Tutoring Academy LLC, providing after-school tutoring and mentoring for K-12 and college students.

While at Ivy Tech, Bright Afriyie was recognized as Outstanding Faculty Member for his excellence in teaching mathematics and quantitative reasoning. He received Ivy Tech-Muncie’s Difference Makers award in 2022 for his contributions to higher education and community engagement.

Afriyie succeeds Sunny Reed, the museum’s previous chief financial and administrative officer. Reed in October left the Eiteljorg after four years to take a new position on the leadership team of the United Way for Southeastern Michigan in Detroit as its chief financial officer.

About the Eiteljorg
For more than 36 years, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art has been an integral part of the cultural fabric of Indianapolis and scenic White River State Park. The Eiteljorg Museum explores the intersection of the arts, histories and cultures of the past and present by sharing the diverse stories of the American West and the Indigenous Peoples of North America. Located on the Central Canal at 500 West Washington St., the Eiteljorg is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

Media Contacts
Bryan Corbin
Public Relations Manager
317.275.1315
bcorbin@eiteljorg.com

Katie Warthan
Director of Communications and Marketing
317.275.1317
kwarthan@eiteljorg.com