Julie Decker
Julie Decker, PhD, has served as Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Anchorage Museum since 2013. Under her leadership, the institution has continued to expand its role as a cultural, scientific, and historical hub in Alaska and the Circumpolar North.
Julie’s academic background is broad: she holds a doctorate in contemporary art history, criticism, and management from Union Institute & University, a master’s degree in arts administration from Golden Gate University, and bachelor’s degrees in fine arts and journalism.
Before stepping into her current role, she was Chief Curator at the Anchorage Museum, where she curated exhibitions spanning contemporary art, architecture, and Arctic environmental histories.
Decker’s career has also included running and owning a contemporary art gallery (Decker/Morris Gallery), teaching at the University of Alaska, and authoring publications and catalogues that bring together art, architecture, history, and environmental concerns-especially as they relate to Northern places.
Under her direction, the Anchorage Museum has launched signature initiatives such as the Northern Initiative and Polar Lab, which seek to foster scholarship and public engagement around life in the North-its environment, culture, and future.
Her curatorial and administrative work balances local community service with international collaboration, underscoring her commitment both to Alaska’s cultural identity and to global conversations about climate, place, and creative expression.