Contact Info
Ellen Owens is the Merle-Smith Director of Learning Programs at the Penn Museum. There, she is on the Executive Team and directly supervises K-12 Education, Accessibility, and Group Sales programs. Owens has taught as an adjunct professor in the University of the Arts Museum Studies graduate program for seven years. She is the President of Emerging Arts Leaders: Philadelphia and sits on the Board of Directors for the Arts & Business Council, The Print Center, and Citizens for the Arts. Owens previously served five years as the Executive Director of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens. For six years, she was Vice President of the Museum Council of Philadelphia and co-founded an experimental art space called HomeSkooled Gallery. Owens graduated with honors from Penn State University, earning an Art Education B.A. and a Painting and Drawing B.F.A. She received her Museum Education M.A. from the University of the Arts; Executive Leadership certificates from the Getty Leadership Institute and Bryn Mawr College.