Ellen Owens

Ellen Owens serves as Director of the Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University and Senior Lecturer teaching Museum Studies. Previously, she held leadership roles as Director of Learning Programs at the University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (sitting on the Executive Team) and Director of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens.

Her academic credentials include:

• B.A. in Art Education and B.F.A. in Painting and Drawing (with honors) from Penn State University
• M.A. in Museum Education from the University of the Arts
• Executive Leadership certificates from the Getty Leadership Institute, University of Pennsylvania, and Bryn Mawr College

Her professional focus integrates museum leadership with educational programming, emphasizing community engagement through arts institutions. She has developed curricula for graduate Museum Studies programs and directed cross-departmental initiatives at major cultural organizations, with expertise spanning art education administration, nonprofit leadership, and cultural policy advocacy.

Current board affiliations include Executive Committees for The Print Center and Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania. Former appointments encompass the Arts & Business Council and Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia.