Trustees of the Missouri Historical Society (MHS) and Commissioners of the History Museum Subdistrict have unanimously appointed Jody Sowell, PhD, to be the new president of the Missouri Historical Society, which operates the Missouri History Museum, MHS Library & Research Center and Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, effective July 11, 2022, following the retirement of President Frances Levine, PhD. Currently the Managing Director of Public History for MHS, Dr. Sowell will be the seventh president of the Society. Sowell has been with the organization for 16 years. The selection follows a 12-month national search process, partnering with outside consulting partner Museum Search & Reference of Londonderry, New Hampshire.

Prior to joining the Missouri Historical Society, Sowell worked in journalism as a reporter at the Dallas Morning News, an assistant professor at the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism and a news editor for the Columbia Missourian.

More information is available here: https://mohistory.org/mediaroom/jody-sowell-president

Updated: March 19, 2025