Ellen Censky began her museum career at the Milwaukee Public Museum in the 1977. Later, after spending time working in museums around the country, she returned to MPM to eventually run the organization.
When Censky stepped into her role as president and chief executive officer in 2018, MPM was just starting the process of planning a new facility. With the potential lapse of its accreditation at stake, Censky was charged with overseeing the planning and fundraising stages of this undertaking. MPM is now shooting for a spring 2024 groundbreaking for its $240 million project on the northeast corner of 6th Street and McKinley Avenue in downtown Milwaukee. The museum has received commitments of $90 million in state and county funding for the project and is working to raise $150 million in private funds.
Censky also navigated the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which included the museum’s temporarily closure and financial challenges.
“Ellen Censky has led the MPM team with a level of grace and integrity unmatched,” said Corey Lahr, audio visual technician at MPM. “She has a dedication to the museum field and her constant positive and exuberant attitude when leading the charge for the new museum.”
