Minnesota Orchestra Names Sheri Notaro as Vice President of People and Culture

The Minnesota Orchestra announced today that Sheri Notaro has been appointed as the organization’s first vice president of people and culture. A native Lynchburg, Virginia, Notaro currently serves as a senior leader at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Beginning her new role at the Orchestra on November 8, 2022, Notaro will be responsible for providing strategic direction and tactical support for all Human Resources functions and diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and anti-racism initiatives at the Minnesota Orchestra.

“This new role is critically important to the Orchestra, and we are delighted that Sheri can help us to develop it and bring it to life,” said Minnesota Orchestra President and CEO Michelle Miller Burns. “Her background in both HR and DEI fields, her strategic thinking skills and her empathy make her a natural fit for this leadership position. We cannot wait to welcome her into the performing arts world and the Twin Cities community.”

Notaro has served since 2020 as the director of diversity, equity and inclusion at the Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, where she has spearheaded the execution of the ISR’s five-year DEI strategic plan. For 15 months during the pandemic, she additionally served as the ISR’s interim director of human resources. She has previously held a variety of positions over nearly two decades in academia, including working as a senior career development consultant in Human Resources at Washington University in St. Louis; associate dean for the graduate school at Washington University; and associate dean for inclusion and professional development and university diversity officer at Cornell University’s graduate school.

Holding a BS from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, and an MA and PhD from the University of Michigan, in developmental psychology, Notaro has published on topics ranging from the Stonewell riots to helping low-income women of color navigate the complexities of cancer care. She is a Society for Human Resource Management certified professional and served as a board member for the St. Louis Children’s Choirs from 2017 to 2020.

“I am beyond excited to join the board members, staff and musicians at the Minnesota Orchestra as we work together to advance the vision of a people-first culture and workplace. I am very impressed with the Orchestra’s thoughtful and demonstrated commitment to DEI and anti-racism, and I will strive to build upon those successes through our people management strategy,” said Notaro.

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