John Spann

John Spann is a public historian, museum professional, and cultural leader dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories that have shaped Mississippi and the nation. As Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Mississippi Humanities Council, he leads public history initiatives that help communities preserve their own histories while fostering dialogue, education, and civic engagement.

Spann directs Witness: The Freedom Memory Project, a community-driven initiative that partners with Mississippians to create lasting sites of memory honoring local Civil Rights Movement history. He also oversees the expansion of the Mississippi Freedom Trail, working with communities across the state to research, preserve, and commemorate people, places, and events whose stories have too often been overlooked.

Previously, Spann served as Curator of Education and Programming at the Two Mississippi Museums, a part of the founding curation team who helped launch one of the nation's premier history and civil rights museum complexes. Throughout his career, he has developed exhibitions, educational programs, documentaries, podcasts, and public conversations that connect scholarship with community engagement.

A sought-after speaker, moderator, and storyteller, Spann co-hosts the Mississippi Humanities Council's Reflecting Mississippi podcast and serves on the boards of the Southeastern Museums Conference, the Mississippi Historical Society, the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Rho Xi Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity incorporated, and the ACLU of Mississippi.

Through every project, Spann is committed to ensuring that history is preserved with integrity, interpreted with dignity, and shared in ways that strengthen communities and deepen our understanding of the American story.