Deborah Pope was appointed Executive  Director of Shangri La in 2000 and since then has overseen the research, planning, preservation and interpretation of the 5 acre property and its collection of Islamic art. She has worked for more than 30 years in the fields of museum administration, education and historic preservation. A lifelong resident of Hawai’i, Pope received a B.A. in Art History from Newton College of the Sacred Heart and did graduate work in Art History at Wellesley College, where she was awarded a Kress Foundation Fellowship.

From 1994 - 2000, Pope served as Executive Director of the Hawai‘i Museums Association, providing training and support to museums, historic sites, botanical gardens and cultural centers throughout the state.  She previously served as Director of the Mission Houses Museum, a National Historic Landmark, in Honolulu from 1988 - 1994, as Assistant Director from 1986 - 1988 and Curator of Education from 1978 - 1986. She has served as an Advisor to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Historic Hawai‘i Foundation and currently serves on the Board of the Manoa Valley Heritage Center.