Laughing All the Way to the Top

By Marisa Thomas '22, May 16, 2022

Journey Gunderson ’04 is named one of the world’s top 50 museum influencers.

Journey Gunderson '04 is the executive director of the National Comedy Center.

(Photo Submitted)

If you’re looking for the center of the comedy world, just follow the sound of laughter to Jamestown, New York. That’s where you’ll find the National Comedy Center, which in 2020 was voted “best new museum” as part of USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards.

It’s also where you’ll find Journey Gunderson ’04, who, in her role as the center’s executive director, was named to Blooloop’s 50 Museum Influencers list. Blooloop, which tracks trends and developments in the museum industry, selected Gunderson for its international listing that also included the director of the Museum of London and the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, among others.

It’s just the latest accolade for the museum, which in 2019 was included in Time’s World’s 100 Greatest Places list and People’s 100 Reasons to Love America list.

Blooloop highlighted Gunderson’s ability to overcome the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic. In March 2020, the museum was forced to close temporarily. But rather than dwell on the negative, Gunderson and her team moved the laughs online, creating the National Comedy Center Anywhere platform to allow comedy fans to explore the museum virtually and drive the reputation of the center forward.

“My favorite part of my role is working with our staff to fight above our weight and achieve things people didn’t believe we could.”

Journey Gunderson '04

“It was heartbreaking to have to close the turnstiles to visitors just two weeks after being recognized by USA Today,” she said. “But it enabled us to sharpen our focus on our digital initiatives, which otherwise might have taken years to develop.”

Another initiative was the inaugural virtual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival. Comedians such as Jimmy Fallon, Tiffany Haddish, Jay Leno, Debra Messing, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Keenan Thompson, Margaret Cho, and “Weird” Al Yankovic performed. It’s just another example of how Gunderson and her team aim to exceed expectations.

“My favorite part of my role is working with our staff to fight above our weight and achieve things people didn’t believe we could,” she said.

The museum opened its doors again in July 2020 with the launch of its LaughSafe health and safety program. All exhibits and screens are now touch-free with the aid of complimentary one-time-use earbuds, stylus, and a “LaughCard” featuring a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip that creates a personalized experience in the museum.

“I think our biggest accomplishment is that people from all walks of life—from worldly, cultural critics to respected comedians to everyday comedy consumers and tourists—all hold it in high regard.”

Journey Gunderson '04

“Once the pandemic took hold, we knew that we had to create an environment where people would feel comfortable spending the day with us—laughing freely without worrying about their health and safety,” Gunderson said. “We worked closely with the chief epidemiologist at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to design our award-winning LaughSafe program, a stress-free and touch-free visitor experience.”

The center also owns and operates the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum and is an event partner for the nonprofit Chautauqua Institution, a noted education center and summer resort for adults and youth.

In 2019, Congress designated the center as the official United States cultural institution dedicated to showcasing and preserving the art form of comedy and its heritage.

“I am incredibly proud that the nation now has an official cultural institution to preserve comedy’s important heritage and tell its story,” Gunderson said. “I think our biggest accomplishment is that people from all walks of life—from worldly, cultural critics to respected comedians to everyday comedy consumers and tourists—all hold it in high regard.”