Chris Hochstetler

Stuhr Museum

Chris Hochstetler is the Executive Director of Stuhr Museum. Chris has been a nonprofit executive for 14 years and believes in giving back to and building community.

Chris was born to a single mother in Grand Island and was homeless for much of his childhood. After extended years in foster care, he graduated from Grand Island Senior High in 1986. He enlisted in the Army and had a 20-year decorated career, serving in various assignments including Europe and Iraq. He is a combat veteran, and his last assignment was the Acting Sergeant Major of the Army’s only Special Operations Recruiting Battalion. During his service, Hochstetler was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, five Army Commendation Medals, nine Army Achievement Medals, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation for superior unit action in combat operations.

He holds a B.S. in Legal Studies with a History minor from the University of Maryland and a Master of Public Administration, specializing in nonprofit management.

Hochstetler’s career has included being the Dean of Innovation and Creativity at Hastings College, the Chief Executive Officer of the KANEKO, a nonprofit center for creative exploration, the Director of Fund Development for the Missionary Society of St. Columban and the Senior Vice President of Resource Development for the American Lung Association.

He has dedicated the past 25 years to examining and implementing nontraditional and creative approaches to encouraging and fostering teamwork to grow creativity and innovation in the discovery of multi-disciplinary solutions for complex problems.

He serves on the Board of Trustees for the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation, Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor and Agricultural Learning, Nebraskans for the Arts, University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor’s Board of Counselors, and the Hastings Arts Council. He also serves as a mentor on the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation Youth Philanthropy Board.