Freedom Center Names Glen Guyton President and Chief Operating Officer

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Names Glen Guyton President and Chief Operating Officer

Nonprofit executive, futurist and Air Force veteran to lead institution’s next chapter

CINCINNATI — The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center has announced the appointment of Glen A. Guyton as its next President and Chief Operating Officer.

Guyton is a nonprofit executive, futurist, author and U.S. Air Force veteran with more than two decades of experience helping institutions strengthen trust, navigate change and align resources with their mission. Since 2018, he has served as executive director of Mennonite Church USA, where he became the first African American and youngest person to hold the role, leading financial stewardship, fundraising, national partnerships and organizational transformation.

"The Freedom Center has always stood for something bigger," said Guyton. "It holds stories of courage, sacrifice and ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Our responsibility is to make sure those stories continue to shape how we understand freedom, how we treat one another and how we prepare the next generation. I embrace that responsibility, and I'm excited to join this community in that shared purpose."

Guyton will serve the Freedom Center as its next President and Chief Operating Officer.

Building a sustainable future at the Freedom Center

Working with Freedom Center board, staff and supporters, Guyton will focus on strengthening the Freedom Center’s financial foundation, expanding educational and digital reach, enhancing the visitor experience and building high-value partnership. His appointment comes as the institution shapes its strategic direction for the years ahead, connecting exhibitions and collections with education, leadership development, public dialogue, creative programming and digital access.

"I see a future where the Freedom Center has two front doors,” said Guyton. “One welcomes families, students and visitors on Freedom Way. The other opens into classrooms, workplaces and communities around the world. Both offer powerful experiences that help people understand history and consider what freedom asks of us today."

As part of this work, the Freedom Center will explore partnerships that enhance the visitor experience and ensure the Freedom Center remains a trusted national resource for digital learning, dialogue and civic engagement. 

“From its location on the Banks of the Ohio River to its impact, experienced internationally, the Freedom Center is uniquely positioned to connect the lessons of the Underground Railroad to the opportunities and challenges facing communities today,” said Dawn Gilmore, Sr. Director, Associate Experience Leader for Merchandising & Kroger Health at The Kroger Company and the Freedom Center’s Board Chair-Elect. “We are confident we can help more people experience that connection." 

A national leader with ties to Cincinnati 

A Houston native, Guyton already has a record of bringing people to Cincinnati. He provided executive oversight for MennoCon21, which brought approximately 1,000 people to the city and notable economic impact to the region during its reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Guyton has familiarized himself with Cincinnati through recreational travel and past visits to the Freedom Center with family and friends. 

"I'm not just coming to Cincinnati to take a job. I'm coming to be a neighbor," Guyton said. "This means listening, showing up and getting to know the people who make this community special. The Freedom Center belongs to this community, and its future will be stronger when more people see themselves as part of its story." 

A thoughtful transition 

Guyton will begin part-time onboarding in Cincinnati on November 1, 2026, working with the board, staff and outgoing President and Chief Operating Officer Woodrow "Woody" Keown, Jr., who retires on December 31 after more than seven years of service.