The Ella Sharp Museum Board of Trustees is pleased to name Julie Johnson as the new Executive Director of Ella Sharp Museum.

Julie will oversee the non-profit organization which includes the Merriman-Sharp Hillside Farm, Mildred I. Hadwin Center for Art and History, and the Peter F. Hurst Planetarium.

Julie comes to the Ella with extensive museum and non-profit experience. Most recently she was the Director of Museums at the Midland Center for the Arts. She has also been the President of the International Museum of Art & Sciences in McAllen, Texas, Vice President of Education & Engagement at the Michigan Science Center, Executive Director of the Detroit Children’s Museum, Associate Director of the Detroit Science Center, Associate Director of Informal Education at the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum in Chicago, and Education Project Specialist at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

While her focus is always on curating outstanding customer experiences, Julie joins the museum with a wealth of knowledge in organizational effectiveness, public relations, educational programming, grant writing, exhibition design, and nonprofit management.

The Board of the Ella is excited for this new chapter in the Museum’s life, and confident that Julie has the experience and vision to carry out our mission of providing opportunities for everyone to explore, engage in, and enjoy history and the arts.

Julie will join Ella Sharp Museum in October of 2021.