March 8, 2022

Burke Museum

Gabriela Chavarria is the new executive director of the Burke Museum. Chavarria brings more than 20 years of experience in managing teams of professionals and science programs, influencing policy, developing new scientific collections, and leading scientists in research efforts both nationally and internationally. Prior to her new position at the Burke, Chavarria was the vice president and chief curator of the science division at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, overseeing scientific collections, research, and leading a team of 44 full-time staff members, along with additional staff, interns, and 400 volunteers. Before her work at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, she was senior science advisor and forensic science branch chief at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife National Forensics Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon. Chavarria received her bachelor's degree in biology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and her master's and Ph.D. in organismic and evolutionary biology from Harvard University. Chavarria also serves on several boards and advisory councils, including the American Institute of Biological Sciences, the National Parks Conservation Association, Defenders of Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy of Colorado, and the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars at the University of California, Santa Cruz. In addition, Chavarria was recently named a 2021 American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow for her work in research administration, the intersection of science and policy, and science advocacy.