Botanica Director to Depart

The City of Wichita and Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, jointly announced today that Director of Botanica, Dawn Hewitt, is leaving her position to return to her hometown of Austin, TX, citing a need to be closer to family. She has accepted a position as Director of Development at Blanton Museum of Art at The University of Texas Austin. Her last day will be Wednesday, December 27.

During her time at Botanica, Hewitt excelled in her position, including aligning staff, streamlining internal processes and contracting major exhibits for 2025 and 2026. Most significantly, Hewitt initiated a process to research and select a new management operating system that will combine ticketing, membership, donor relations, event rentals, and gift shop sales into a single system, significantly improving member and visitor services.

“We are grateful to Dawn for her time with us,” said Lindsay Benacka, Director of Arts and Cultural Services. “While the City and Botanica’s board of trustees are saddened by her departure, we thank her for her hard work and accomplishments while at the helm.”

Botanica Board President Janet Miller added, “Dawn leaves Botanica in a strong financial position, with exceptional staff and set up for success in 2024 and beyond.”  

The director of Botanica is responsible for managing Botanica employees and ensuring the most efficient operation of the organization, facilities, and grounds. Botanica, the Wichita Gardens opened in 1987 and features 18 acres of garden scaping, including more than 4,000 species of plants, 50 sculptures and an annual attendance of more than 300,000 visitors. Botanica is a public/private partnership between the City of Wichita and Botanica, Inc., a non-profit founded to operate the gardens.

The City of Wichita will launch a search for a new director in early 2024.