Mimi Cowan

Mimi Cowan currently serves as the Director of Government Affairs and Sponsored Programs at the Field Museum, a position held since August 2023. Previously, Cowan was the Deputy Director for External Affairs at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity from November 2022 to August 2023, and served as Speaker and Board Member for the Will County Board from November 2018 to November 2022. Cowan also worked as Chief of Staff for State Senator Laura Ellman from January 2019 to November 2022 and was self-employed as a historian, researcher, and writer from August 2015 to October 2022. Academic roles include Adjunct Faculty Instructor at North Central College and Lake Forest College, covering subjects from American Immigration to Urban Studies, along with experiences as a Graduate Assistant at Boston College. Cowan's earlier career includes positions at the Metropolitan Opera and OPERA America, focusing on opera administration. Cowan holds a Ph.D. in American History from Boston College, a Master’s Degree in Irish Studies from University of Galway, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from North Central College.