Sheryl Kolasinski

Sheryl Kolasinski is the Chief Operating Officer at the Houston Zoo. Sheryl has over 25 years of experience in museum operations and construction.

Sheryl began their career in 1987 as the Director of Cultural Institutions for the City of New York Department of General Services. In this role, they oversaw the execution of the capital design and construction program for the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, which included 42 museums, botanical gardens, zoos, and theaters. Some of the notable institutions they worked with include the Brooklyn Museum, PS 1, Lincoln Center, and the Metropolitan Museum.

In 1994, Sheryl left their role with the City of New York to become the Director of Design and Construction for NY State Facilities Development Corporation. In this role, they led a team of 65 architects and engineers responsible for building over $600M in health care facilities across New York State.

In 2012, Sheryl joined the Smithsonian Institution as their Deputy Director/Chief of Staff. As a senior leader of the 1850+ person organization, they were responsible for the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of 19 museums and 9 research institutes in six states, Panama, and Chile.

Sheryl joined the Houston Zoo in 2018 as their Chief Operating Officer. In this role, they are responsible for the overall management and operation of the zoo.

Sheryl Kolasinski has a Bachelor of Arts in Art from Brown University and a Master of Architecture from Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation.

Sheryl Kolasinski reports to Lee Ehmke, CEO. Some of their coworkers include Kristin Finney - VP, Human Resources, Trazanna Moreno - VP, Marketing & Communications, and Peter Riger - VP, Conservation & Education.