Erika Monroe-Kane

Staff Board Member Foundation Member Erika Monroe-Kane is the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters. In a range of professional settings, Monroe-Kane has distinguished herself as an innovator, collaborator, and strategic-thinker. She has previously held leadership positions at national, state, and local organizations such as the National Center on Media Engagement, Wisconsin Department of Justice, United Way of Dane County, and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Throughout her career, Monroe-Kane has led transformational change, successfully setting strategy to define and realize a new vision. Most recently, at the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Monroe-Kane led the pandemic response and planning; spearheaded the diversity, equity, and inclusion focus; and increased data-informed decision making. Concurrently, she ensured operational excellence and employee support during the difficult and challenging past couple years. Erika Monroe-Kane is known for building authentic partnerships and conducting meaningful community engagement, as well as for her commitment to racial justice. Living in Madison, Monroe-Kane has served on many boards and committees, including for Forward Theater Company, Community Justice, Inc., Foundation for Madison Public Schools, and is on the project team for The Center for Black Excellence and Culture. She has created dynamic public art experiences, including the Where are you going? project and Forge exhibition. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Monroe-Kane received her B.A. from the University Missouri–Columbia. She and her husband Charles have embraced Wisconsin and are raising their two children in Madison. Phone: 608-733-6633 x11 E-mail: emonroekane(at)wisconsinacademy.org