CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Museum Center announced today the hiring of Whitney Owens to the position of Chief Learning Officer. Owens brings more than 17 years of museum experience to Cincinnati and will begin her duties on September 28.
“We are thrilled to bring a talent like Whitney on board as we continue to build our leadership team and maximize the impact Cincinnati Museum Center has on the community,” says Elizabeth Pierce, president and CEO of Cincinnati Museum Center. “Whitney’s energy, experience and perspective will help us elevate the programming and resources we provide to our guests and community.”
Owens is an advocate for community collaboration and decentralized learning, using informal learning environments like museums to support and enhance traditional classroom curriculum. She most recently served as the Vice President of Education & Guest Experience at Great Lakes Science Center where she doubled earned revenue from education programs and increased educational interactions by more than 50% from 2011-2015. She also co-founded the Center for Innovation in STEM Education, a public school/university/science center partnership to engage educators in new methods of teaching STEM. Prior to her role at Great Lakes Science Center, Owens spent 11 years with The Field Museum in Chicago, serving in a variety of roles including Temporary & Traveling Exhibitions Director. Owens positioned The Field Museum as a compelling destination for national and international audiences through a content-rich, dynamic exhibitions program.
“Cincinnati Museum Center’s world-class collections, 1.3 million annual visitors and beautiful Union Terminal building make it an unparalleled community resource for connecting science and history to the world around us,” says Owens. “I’m thrilled to join a visionary leadership team and talented staff in serving this vibrant Cincinnati community.”
Owens will help Cincinnati Museum Center provide world-class learning experiences for children and adults through new programming formats, building and strengthening community partnerships and leveraging the incredible depth of Cincinnati Museum Center’s collections. She will also work to showcase the community’s expertise in science, medicine, history, innovation and new technologies through exhibitions and programming.
Owens steps into a role at Cincinnati Museum Center with prestigious alumni. A similar position was previously held by Tonya Matthews, PhD, current president and CEO of the Michigan Science Center, and renowned historian and museum expert John Fleming, PhD.
For more information, visit www.cincymuseum.org