The CEO and president of the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS), Joel A. Bartsch has been working in museums for more than 30 years. Beginning as the assistant to the director and curatorial assistant at the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum, he steadily moved his way up in the museum hierarchy as a staff member at the Texas Memorial Museum and HMNS, as well as a curator of earth sciences at Lyman House Memorial Museum in Hawaii. While in Hawaii, Joel A. Bartsch was responsible for writing the institution’s first successful corporate grants, doubling membership in the first quarter after joining, and developing collection management policies.

From Lyman House, Mr. Bartsch joined the California State Mining & Mineral Museum as curator and director. Over the course of three years, he supervised the construction of a new museum and coordinated work from public interest groups, scientists, and government agencies attempting to define the museums’ exhibits and programs. In 1991, he returned to HMNS as a curator, project manager, and director of earth sciences immediately prior to accepting the title of CEO and president in 2004.

In addition to his varying museum roles, Joel Bartsch has held several committee and board roles. He was elected to the Museum Standards Committee by the California Department of Conservation in 1998 and served as chairman of the Houston Museum District Association for six years.