Sonia Winner became the 10th director of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in July 2018. In this role, she partners with a nearly 60-person Board of Directors and nearly 140 staff members to advance the mission of the Museum--an institution with $282 million in assets. For more than 100 years, the Museum has inspired a passion for science and nature in its visitors. It ranks among the top 10 natural history museums in the United States in terms of endowment, size of collection, and attendance. Through the Museum's $150 million transformation project, Winner is spearheading a complete reimagining of the Museum's campus and exhibits, creating an innovative model for natural history museums worldwide.

Prior to her appointment as CEO, Winner served in leadership roles at Columbia University from 2011-2016, culminating in a promotion to Vice President for University Development. Winner came to Columbia from Case Western Reserve University, where she spent more than a decade serving in associate dean roles at ine Weatherhead School of Management and the Law School. Before entering the development field, Winner spent many years in law career services and served as a clinical law professor.

In 2023, Winner was named Cleveland Magazine's Community Leader of the Year and was chosen as a Cleveland Business Journal Women of Influence honoree. Winner also served as Co-Chair on The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Reaccreditation Committee for the American Museum of Natural History. She currently serves as Vice Chair on the Board of Visitors Committee for Cleveland State University, chaired the Young Lawyers Section of the Bar Association, and is a past president of the Law Placement Association of Cleveland. Winner was born at Clark Air Force Base in Pampanga, Philippines and is married to Kevin F. O'Neill, a First Amendment scholar and professor.