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Dr. Bonnie Styles - Illinois State Museum

Dr. Bonnie Styles became the Associate Curator and Chair of Anthropology at the Illinois State Museum (ISM) in 1977. She subsequently became a full Curator of Anthropology, later the Director of Sciences, then Associate Museum Director of Science and Education, and finally ISM Director from 2005-2015. During her directorship, Dr. Styles oversaw innovative outreach and education programs, as well as the opening of new exhibits, including the Mary Ann MacLean Play Museum children’s gallery. Ultimately, Governor Rauner directed the ISM’s parent agency, the Department of Natural Resources, to close the museum in 2015 amid the state’s budget impasse, ending Dr. Styles’ directorship.