Kirk Johnson Appointed President and CEO of Denver Museum of Nature & Science

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science Board of Trustees has appointed Kirk Johnson as the Museum's next president and CEO. Johnson, who has served as the Sant Director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History since 2012, will assume his new role on February 1, 2027. Current President and CEO George Sparks will retire at the end of January 2027.

Johnson brings extensive experience in leading major scientific institutions, stewarding significant collections, and making complex science accessible to the public. At the Smithsonian, he led one of the institution's most visited museums and oversaw a collection of nearly 149 million specimens and artifacts. During his tenure, the museum opened the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils – Deep Time exhibition.

Prior to his time at the Smithsonian, Johnson spent over two decades at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, where he rose to chief curator and vice president of research and collections. He was also a lead figure in the landmark Snowmastodon excavation. His deep familiarity with both the museum and the Colorado region was cited as a key asset for the role.

Jena Hausmann, chair of the Museum's Board of Trustees, highlighted Johnson's international standing and experience in leading a major natural history museum as critical for the institution's next chapter. Johnson expressed his enthusiasm for returning to the museum, which he stated shaped him as a scientist and leader.