Haile-Selassie & Su Join Human Origins Institute
Curators Yohannes Haile-Selassie and Denise Su To Join Institute of Human Origins and Continue as Cleveland Museum of Natural History Research Associates
This July, Curator of Physical Dr. Anthropology Yohannes Haile-Selassie, Ph.D., and Chief Academic Engagement Officer and Curator of Paleobotany & Paleoecology Dr. Denise Su, Ph.D., will assume Research Associate roles at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History as they join Arizona State University’s Institute of Human Origins. The transition advances the longstanding research partnership between the Museum and the Institute, which was founded by Dr. Donald Johanson, Ph.D., a previous curator at the Museum and the scientist who discovered “Lucy.”
The Museum congratulates Drs. Haile-Selassie and Su, thanks them for their years of service, and looks forward to continuing to collaborate for the advancement of the field. During his successful tenure of nearly twenty years at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Dr. Haile-Selassie has helped to reshape the understanding of human origins and changed conventional thinking about human evolution. Since joining the Museum in 2012, Dr. Su has drawn upon her research experience to put a strong and important set of educational programs in place and develop new opportunities for women and other underrepresented groups in STEM fields.
As a global leader in the study of human origins, the Museum will be launching an international search for its next Curator of Physical Anthropology. Meenakshi Sharma, Chief Strategy Officer, and Jason Davis, Director of Astronomy, will lead the Museum’s education department during the transition, ensuring the seamless continuation of science engagement for all ages and the dynamic community programs that are at the core of the Museum’s mission.