Perot Museum Names Impactful Exec as New Chief Learning Officer

Innovative business executive and community advocate Drexell Owusu has been named chief learning officer at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas.

“The Perot Museum is delighted to welcome Drexell Owusu, a leader in organizational strategy, as we expand access to STEM education to the widest possible audience,” Linda Silver, Eugene McDermott chief executive officer of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, said in a statement. “He brings extensive expertise in education, equity and outreach—which will be crucial as the Perot Museum expands and refines its approach to museum education. Drexell’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit will be instrumental in our pursuit to ignite passion for science and nature in every mind.”

Owusu comes to the museum after leading The Dallas Foundation as its chief impact officer and previously serving the Dallas Regional Chamber as its senior vice president of education & workforce.

He officially joined the leadership team on April 1, the museum said.

‘The culmination of all the threads of my career’

Owusu joined The Dallas Foundation as chief impact officer in April 2021, where he focused on improving lives and outcomes across Dallas County, advising and directing more than $70 million in annual community philanthropy each of the last three years.

Owusu has worked closely with philanthropic, nonprofit, and civic leaders across Dallas and collaborated with the foundation’s donor partners. At the Dallas Regional Chamber, he led the organization’s efforts to equitably grow and develop the existing regional education and workforce pipeline.

The museum said Owusu also brings the invaluable perspective of a business executive and entrepreneur with great depth in education.

Previously, Owusu founded and served as CEO of Brave Capital Partners, an investment company focused on catalyzing minority communities. He also was managing director and chief of staff at Civitas Capital Group, a private real estate investment firm, where he led the establishment of the GrowSouth Fund to invest in southern Dallas.

The museum said Owusu has served in several corporate leadership and strategy roles during his career, including at Blockbuster, FedEx Office, and Accenture.

“Joining the incredible Perot Museum team is the culmination of all the threads of my career,” Owusu said in a statement. “I’m eager to collaborate with our dedicated staff to amplify our impact, extending our educational initiatives beyond the museum’s walls. Our goal is to forge meaningful connections and provide substantial support to all communities of North Texas, as well as to partner with our school systems to inspire minds throughout our region.”

Board and nonprofit service

Owusu serves on a number of civic and nonprofit boards, including on the boards of Better Block, Education is Freedom, Education Opens Doors, Impact Ventures, the SMU Simmons School of Education and Human Performance, Trust for Public Land-Texas, United to Learn, Year Up Texas, and the Dallas Development Fund.

Owusu also works closely with Dallas ISD, where he chairs the Dallas ISD Bond 2020 Advisory Council and the West Dallas STEM School Advisory Council, as well as serving as a board member for the Dallas Education Foundation.

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is a nonprofit educational and research organization dedicated to inspiring minds through nature and science.