Dear Members, Friends, Donors, and Winona County Community Supporters,
The Winona County Historical Society is sharing that Executive Director Carrie Johnson will be stepping down for personal reasons this June after five and a half years of exceptional leadership at the Winona County Historical Society (WCHS).
As she begins a new phase of her professional career, Carrie’s gratitude goes out to the people who make up WCHS: “It has been a privilege to serve this organization and our community, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the preservation and celebration of Winona County’s history during my tenure,” she says. “I remain confident in the Society’s bright future.”
During her tenure, Carrie guided the Society through a period of remarkable growth, innovation, and strengthened community connection. Among her many lasting contributions, Carrie worked closely with our Board of Directors to help define and solidify the core values of WCHS, ensuring that our mission and guiding principles reflect both who we are and who we aspire to be.
“Carrie has been an extraordinary leader whose vision and dedication have transformed the Winona County Historical Society in lasting ways,” said Anne Conway, Board Director. “We are deeply grateful for her leadership and the strong foundation she leaves for the future.”
These organizational principles of active learning, respectful representation, transformative storytelling, inclusive collaboration, and responsible stewardship guided Carrie’s whole body of work. Always a strong advocate for diverse community input, Carrie created new pathways for collaboration that help to ensure the History Center’s responsiveness and relevance.
The Oral History Project – a highlight achievement – bloomed under Carrie’s directorship, capturing and preserving stories that might otherwise have gone untold. Carrie built and deepened relationships with Native communities, ensuring their voices and histories are meaningfully represented in our work.
Carrie also secured significant grants for critical building repairs, including improved environmental controls that protect and preserve our collections for future generations. She undertook a comprehensive overhaul of our exhibits, supported by a successful capital campaign that promises to refresh the visitor experience and expand the reach of WCHS when we open new exhibits this year. The new exhibits will help visitors of today examine history from many different perspectives, especially highlighting those that have been underrepresented in the past. This direction reflects Carrie’s deep commitment to leaving room for all voices – a passion that continues to shape the organization’s work moving forward.
Always team-focused, Carrie mentored interns and expanded the WCHS internship program to provide meaningful opportunities for young people to gain experience, develop skills, and connect with history and public service. She invested in staff as well, clarifying roles and fostering a culture rooted in collaboration, personal growth, and shared purpose.
Carrie’s impact on this organization cannot be overstated. While we are truly saddened to see her go, we are incredibly grateful for the vision, care, and dedication she has brought to this work. We extend our warmest wishes to her as she begins her next chapter.
As we look ahead, we do so with optimism and confidence. Carrie has helped lay the groundwork for a meaningful future in local history, and we remain committed to continuing this important work in service to our Winona County communities. Change brings both reflection and opportunity, and we are energized by the possibilities that lie ahead.
This leadership transition at WCHS creates a unique moment for growth and inspires fresh perspectives, new energy, and innovative ideas that build on an already strong foundation. If interested in applying for the Executive Director position, learn more at winonahistory.org/employment-internships.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support, partnership, and belief in the mission of the Society!
