Welcome to Brazen Careerist!

About Me

Museum educator with experience in art, history, and science museums, as well as in the classroom at primary and secondary education levels. Especially focused on developing and offering creative interdisciplinary programming with an emphasis on hands-on inquiry learning.

Work History

• Peabody Essex Museum
• Program Specialist, Art & Nature Center
• January 2010 to Present

• - Curatorial assistant for the Art & Nature Center (ANC), design interactive exhibit components and weekly programming, research potential participating artists, write interpretive text.
  - Supervise daily operations of the ANC, train and mentor undergraduate and graduate interns.
  - Collaborate with school, family, adult, and patron programming staff on tours and events.
  - Organize 4 multi-day events per year, including weekend festivals and school vacations.
  - Design new pre- and post-visit materials tied to curriculum standards and museum tours on cross-cultural themes and rotating exhibits.
  - Develop and conduct interdisciplinary professional development workshops for teachers.
  - Created first ANC gallery guides for family audiences, used by 2,000 visitor groups per year.
  - Established new weekend story and art family program for previously underserved age group, resulting in 30% increase in attendance from previous story programs.

• The Discovery Museums
• Associate Education Director
• December 2006 to January 2010

• - Select, train, schedule, and supervise interpretive staff on the exhibit floor, 75 part time employees and volunteers ages 14-70
  - Design and present hands-on scientific and interdisciplinary programs and classes to the public, for a targeted audience or for all ages
  - Provide administrative assistance to Education Director; track budgets and maintain supplies for the exhibit floor, assist with grant-funded programming, oversee daily operations of Children's and Science Discovery buildings
  - Collaborate with the Exhibits and Facilities manager in the design and construction of, and signage for new exhibits in both indoor and outdoor spaces
  - Collaborate with other area institutions on educational public programming
  - Design and maintain temporary exhibit spaces, bulletin boards, and exhibit kit boxes

• Massachusetts Historical Society
• Education Department Intern
• January 2007 to June 2007

• - Developed educational goals and planning document as ‘spine’ for designing website content on the causes of the American Revolution, based on an exploration of primary source documents in the MHS collection (http://www.masshist.org/revolution/)
  - Researched contextual information for primary source documents and composed brief introductions to each thematic section
  - Researched context for each primary source document and composed introduction, critical thinking questions, and thematic questions for individual and linked documents, to be used by teachers and students at the middle to high school level for classroom discussion and assignments

• Longfellow National Historic Site (NPS)
• Interpretive Ranger GS7
• March 2006 to November 2006

• - Guided daily tours of the house on two original themes: “Longfellow: Creator of Memory” and “Longfellow: Man of Conscience”
  - Provided administrative assistance to supervisory ranger, site manager, and administrative officer; set schedule, managed fees and deposits, updated press and other mailing lists
  - Wrote and designed interpretive and educational materials including exhibit guides and interpretive site bulletins on the museum collection and grounds; edited text and implemented graphic design for other official publications
  - Designed and led educational activities around historical themes for broad age ranges
  - Wrote and distributed all press releases, flyers, and pamphlets for special programs and events, including poetry readings, concerts, community outreach
  - Provided visitor information and maintained the bookstore in Visitors’ Center

Education

• Boston University
• Masters, Arts Administration
• 2009 - 2012

• Tufts University
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study, Museum Studies, Education
• 2005 - 2007

• Harvard College
• Bachelors, English
• 2000 - 2004