Institutional Advancement Leader and Penn Alumna Katie Murtha Appointed as Penn Museum’s Senior Director of Development

A high-resolution image is available for download here.

PHILADELPHIA, September 16, 2024—With more than 20 years of leadership experience at topeducational and cultural organizations in the U.S. such as the Juilliard School, Katie Murthareturns to the University of Pennsylvania as the Penn Museum’s Senior Director of Development. Murtha, who earned a B.A. in Communications at Penn, begins her new role today.

As a member of the Museum’s executive team and the University’s Development AlumniRelations (DAR) department, the Senior Director of Development is responsible for advancingthe Museum’s fundraising and alumni relations program.

As part of the Museum’s ongoing $100 million Building Transformation project, she will continuegenerating support for the largest renovation phase in the institution’s 137-year history:reimagining the Ancient Egypt and Nubia Galleries. Showcasing a collection spanning 5,000years, the 14,500 square-foot wing will feature the architectural elements of a Middle Kingdompharaonic palace and an intact Old Kingdom tomb chapel, unveiling an unprecedentedexperience among North American museums.

"I am so excited to be back at Penn and to apply my experience in helping advance the PennMuseum’s mission as a center of creative inquiry and the ongoing exploration of our sharedhumanity," she says, adding that her first visit to the Museum was during New StudentOrientation as a freshman. "I look forward to working with Chris, the Museum and universitycolleagues, the Board, and alumni of all generations, backgrounds, and nations to strengthensupport for this world-class institution."

Most recently, she served as the Senior Director of Principal and Major Gifts at The JuilliardSchool, the leading performing arts conservatory of music, dance, and drama—where shesecured several transformational gifts, such as a $50 million grant to address inequities inaccessing classical music education.

Previously, and also at the Lincoln Center campus in New York City, Murtha served as theDeputy Director of the Patron Program at the Metropolitan Opera, where she oversaw a teamresponsible for raising more than $20 million each year. She has also held roles at the SanDiego Opera and Project H.O.M.E. in Philadelphia.

Throughout her career, Murtha has been motivated by her belief in the importance ofeducation, dedication to local communities, and how arts and culture have the power toconnect humanity.

"Katie has a long history of working with arts and educational institutions that put culture at theservice of the community, making her a perfect fit for the Museum," says Dr. Christopher Woods,Williams Director of the Penn Museum and Avalon Professor in the Humanities at Penn’s Schoolof Arts and Sciences. "We’re very pleased to welcome her back to Penn and onto the Museum’sExecutive Team."

Outside of work, Murtha spends time with her family, including her husband, Justin, and theirrescue dog, Special Agent Cooper.