Denver – October 01, 2026 -- The Denver Museum of Nature & Science Board of Trustees has named Kirk Johnson, Sant Director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History since 2012, as its next president and CEO, effective Feb. 1, 2027.
Johnson departs a museum holding 149 million specimens and drawing 4 million annual visitors
At the Smithsonian, Johnson has overseen the world's largest natural history collection and one of the institution's most visited sites. His tenure included the opening of the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils – Deep Time, a flagship exhibition tying Earth's biological history to contemporary issues.
Incumbent George Sparks exits at the end of January 2027 after leading the Denver institution
Sparks will remain in his role until retiring at the close of January 2027, handing leadership to a successor with direct institutional history at the Denver Museum. Johnson spent more than two decades there prior to his 2012 departure, rising to chief curator and vice president of research and collections, and co-led the Snowmastodon excavation near Snowmass Village.
Board-led search with Spencer Stuart evaluated candidates against formal leadership criteria
A selection committee chaired by trustee Rick Ambrose, who will become Board chair, ran a national search supported by executive search firm Spencer Stuart. Board chair Jena Hausmann cited Johnson's 14 years running a top-tier natural history museum as matching the institution's next phase of growth.
Johnson's public-facing record includes 17 books and multiple NOVA documentary credits
Johnson holds degrees from Amherst College, the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University, and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His media work includes the NOVA programs "Making North America,