Garcia-Itchoak brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to cultural, social, and political impact through strategic creative ecosystems. With a career spanning several prestigious institutions, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership in the nonprofit and museum sectors, specializing in organizational development, strategic planning, and fostering meaningful partnerships.

Most recently, she served as a Program Officer at the Rasmuson Foundation, managing a portfolio totaling $8.5 million. Her role involved leading core programs such as the Sabbatical Program for CEO/Executive Directors and Tribal Administrators, supporting long-standing partnerships with Museums Alaska, the Alaska Community Foundation and the Alaska State Council on the Arts. Her work centered on equitable grantmaking, community-led projects, and broad community impact across Alaska.

Before this, she was the Lead Capacity Builder at The Foraker Group, specializing in organizational development within the nonprofit sector. Her expertise in strategic planning, board governance, and executive leadership was instrumental in mentoring leadership cohorts and enhancing organizational culture across the state. She also played a significant role in supporting the arts, museums, and cultural heritage centers through capacity-building initiatives.

Her extensive experience also includes opening a children’s museum, Wonder Works (Oak Park, IL); leading K – 12 education programs at The Field Museum (Chicago, IL), managing learning experiences at the American Museum of Natural History (NYC) and serving as the Executive Director of The Alaska Museum of Science and Nature, leading the organization through fiduciary and operational improvements.

In 2010 at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, she reimagined the Education Department and Imaginarium, collaboratively building interdisciplinary and participatory programs. Her leadership in managing multimillion-dollar budgets, securing significant grants, and developing impactful educational programs has left a lasting legacy in each of her roles.

In her new role as Executive Director of the Chugach Museum, she will oversee all museum activities, including collections, exhibits, programs, and personnel. She is committed to implementing the strategic plan, fostering relationships with key stakeholders, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the museum. Her vision, strategic thinking, and extensive nonprofit experience make her an ideal leader to guide the museum toward excellence and sustainability.

“I look forward to joining the Chugach Museum as their new Executive Director in January 2025,” Monica Garcia-Itchoak expressed. “It is an amazing opportunity to be a part of creating a cultural resource and destination that will impact many generations. It’s truly an honor.”

“We are confident that her leadership will be instrumental in advancing our mission to share the Chugach way of life, inspire the world, and set new standards in native museum curation,” expressed Lauren Johnson. “This appointment is a significant step toward making the Chugach Museum a reality, and we look forward to the exciting developments ahead under her guidance.”