On December 14, 2020, Girl Scouts of the USA welcomed Shannon Browning-Mullis as the new executive director at the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace. Previous director Lisa Junkin-Lopez departed in 2019, leaving the museum in the capable hands of interim director Sherryl Lang.
Browning-Mullis was previously the curator of history and decorative arts at Telfair Museums. She spent the last several years leading the major reinterpretation of the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, fully incorporating the stories of the people enslaved at the site into the tour and exhibition narrative. The award-winning project picked up national press and created the opportunity for Chatham County residents to visit the site free for a year. Before leaving Telfair Museums, Browning-Mullis launched the Legacy of Slavery in Savannah Initiative with the goal of using art, research, scholarship, and community engagement to investigate the enduring legacies of slavery in the community and to work toward reparative justice.
After reopening the Birthplace with new covid safety protocols, a newly renovated site, a new audio tour, and a new ticketing system, the new director plans to focus on the next iteration of the Birthplace experience. The site is primed for a close examination of the stories it tells and how it engages with the community. Browning-Mullis looks forward to welcoming all girls, all Savannahians, and all history lovers who seek to make the world a better place.
