Whitney A. Owens

Whitney Owens is Chief Learning Officer for CMC, where she oversees the Museum of Natural History & Science, Cincinnati History Museum, The Children’s Museum, education, community engagement, and exhibit content development. Owens has spent 20 years in informal science education, creating dynamic visitor experiences to engage and inspire audiences of all ages. From creating compelling stories and learning experiences at The Field Museum in Chicago to leading public, school and out-of-school-time programs as Vice President of Education & Guest Experience at Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, she has helped lead institutions through periods of transformation and growth that guide them to be more relevant, responsive, and exciting places within their communities. In Cleveland, she increased educational interactions by 51%, founded an award-winning teen program, and created fresh initiatives to reach new and underserved audiences and enhance strategic partnerships; in Chicago, she traveled the world with the T. rex “Sue,” created thought-provoking exhibitions, and brought one-of-a-kind experiences to The Field Museum. As a global Noyce Foundation Leadership Fellow, Owens dug deeply into community engagement, leading a major initiative to bring together the Maker and Manufacturing fields in Northeast Ohio and connect kids to STEM where it lives in their community. Owens graduated from Northwestern University and holds a Masters in Cultural Management from the City University of London. She is Board President for the Association of Midwest Museums, an Advisory Board Member for the Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative, and a proud graduate of Leadership Cincinnati.