r. Gavin J. Svenson is an internationally recognized entomologist and natural history museum leader, specializing in the evolutionary biology of praying mantises. He earned his B.S. from Cornell University and his Ph.D. in Phylogenetics and Systematics from Brigham Young University, followed by postdoctoral research fellowships at the New York State Museum and Museum of Southwestern Biology at the University of New Mexico. At the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Dr. Svenson served as Curator of Invertebrate Zoology since 2012 and, beginning in 2022, as Chief Science Officer. In this role, he oversaw a collection of more than five million specimens, led conservation efforts across 12,500 acres of protected land, and played a central role in a $150 million institutional transformation that opened new state-of-the-art galleries and collection spaces in 2024.
As a specialist in praying mantis systematics, Dr. Svenson has reshaped the scientific understanding of this insect group. His research has uncovered hidden evolutionary patterns that challenged long-standing assumptions and led to significant revisions in the traditional classification of mantises. By integrating molecular data with detailed morphological studies, he has clarified relationships among lineages that were previously misunderstood, revealing convergent evolutionary traits and demonstrating that many long-accepted groupings were artificial. His findings not only advanced entomology but also offered insights into broader questions of evolutionary biology, biodiversity, and adaptation.
In 2025, he was appointed Director of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History a Professorial Fellow of Kellogg College. His leadership is recognized for combining innovative museum transformation with a deep commitment to research, education, and public engagement.
