Danielle M. Olsen

Lecturer

Danielle M. Olsen is the Director of Programming at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass, the oldest continuously operating museum in the United States, renowned for its 200-year legacy and global collection of art and culture.

With over a decade of experience at prominent cultural institutions—including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston—Danielle is a seasoned arts professional celebrated for her visionary direction, commitment to lifelong learning, and dedication to fostering access to the arts. She is widely recognized for cultivating future museum leaders through transformative educational programming that empowers them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to drive meaningful change and shape the future of the field.

Beyond her expertise in learning initiatives and nonprofit development, Danielle has contributed significantly to creating interactive, interdisciplinary exhibitions and artist residencies. Her notable projects explore the complex relationship between people and the natural world through inventive storytelling and deeply human-centered designs. Highlights include Wild Designs (2018), PEM’s redesigned permanent gallery in the Art & Nature Center: The Pod (2019), Where the Questions Live: An Exploration of Humans in Nature (2019), and Climate Action: Inspiring Change (2022), for which she served as Assistant Curator.

Danielle holds a Master of Arts in Arts Administration from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and English Communications from Emmanuel College, Boston, grounding her approach in the intersection of theory, practice, and community impact.