With over twenty years of experience in museums in the US, Europe, and Asia, I bring a flexible, fastidious, and fun approach to achieving complex cultural projects. I have contributed to the complete re-envisioning of three major museums and the World’s #1 Visitor Attraction (the Empire State Building Observatory), alongside exhibitions, master plans, and life-long learning initiatives. I work with joy and tenacity.  I believe that careful listening and endless curiosity are the keys to success.

Professional Experience

Thinc Design, New York, US
Senior Curator, Interpretation and Experience ▪ March 2017 – present
• INSTITUTIONAL VISIONING: lead a wide range of cultural and scientific institutions through strategic visioning processes related to new-build and renovation projects, capital campaigns, and rebranding. • INTERPRETIVE PLANNING: create the interpretive approach for cutting-edge visitor experiences, exhibitions, and educational programs covering a variety of social, historical, and scientific topics. • CONTENT CURATION: working across a broad spectrum of cultural, scientific, and natural collections, identify objects and ideas for public display and interpretation; coordinate curatorial teams and experts. • TEAM MANAGEMENT & MENTORSHIP: support the day-to-day tasks and long-term goals of internal and client teams; mentor emerging team members; organize professional development opportunities for colleagues and peers. • RESEARCH & WRITING: conduct in-depth primary and secondary research into a variety of historical and contemporary issues; draft and edit exhibit content and interpretive text.
• CLIENT/COMMUNITY RELATIONS: liaise with international clients, stakeholders, and subject experts to ensure project goals are defined and met on time and on budget; lead workshops and focus groups with members of the public; steward relationships with multi-million-dollar donors, board members, and prospective funders.   • PRESENTATIONS & PUBLIC SPEAKING: regularly present high-stakes talks and pitch ideas to prospective clients, museums staff, board members, donors, community stakeholders, and the press.
• INTERACTIVE & MEDIA DEVELOPMENT: concept and deliver high-performing mechanical and digital interactive experiences and audio-visual presentations. 

THINC PROJECTS, 2017-PRESENT: Future Museum for the Milwaukee Public Museum (Milwaukee, WI, US , 2021-present) John Ball Zoo (Grand Rapids, MI, US 2024) Showstoppers: Spectacular Costumes from Stage and Screen (New York, NY, US 2021) Museum for the UN (Copenhagen, Denmark, 2020) Philadelphia Zoo (Philadelphia, PA, US, 2018-2020) Independence Palace (Saigon, Vietnam, 2019) Frost Science Museum (Miami, FL, US, 2018) Empire State Building Observatory (New York, NY, US, 2018-2019) World Science Forum (Amman, Jordan, 2017) Jordan Museum (Amman, Jordan, 2017). 

London Transport Museum, London, UK
Interpretation Manager ▪ April 2015 – March 2017
• INTERPRETIVE PLANNING: develop the interpretive vision and methodology for a series of public tours exploring historic sites across London.
• CONTENT DEVELOPMENT: conduct primary research and develop original narratives for tour scripts, panel text, booklets, online copy, and media supporting exhibits and displays across six historic transportation sites.
• INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION: work closely with curators, designers, volunteers, executive staff, and facilities specialists to ensure consistent, enjoyable, and impactful visitor experiences.
• PROGRAM COORDINATION: coordinate deadlines, deliverables, and work timelines to produce programs on schedule and to a high standard. • VOLUNTEER & STAFF TRAINING: prepare materials (content and methodology) to train public-facing staff and volunteers.

National Army Museum, London, UK
Interpretation Manager  ▪ February 2013 – March 2015
• EXHIBITION PLANNING: coordinated the interpretive vision for a £23.5 million exhibition redevelopment project, including the complete overhaul of five permanent galleries.
• DESIGN DEVELOPMENT: working closely with designers and curators, delivered the conceptual, schematic and detailed designs for exhibits, including plans for showcases, interactives, media, and AV.
• CURATORIAL COORDINATION: identified and evaluated fine art, artifacts, archival materials, and media for inclusion in the Museum’s exhibits and programs; coordinated a team of ten curators to deliver the Museum’s new galleries and exhibits; monitored work programs, deadlines, and deliverables.
• COLLECTIONS CARE & DATA MANAGEMENT: oversaw databases tracking condition-reporting, licensing, and vital data/meta-data related to artifacts, art, and archives selected for exhibition display.
• PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT & MENTORING: coached junior and mid-level staff in developing public engagement skills and interpretive strategies required for effective exhibits and programs.
• PROJECT MANAGEMENT: monitored budgets and managed exhibit teams’ work programs, deadlines, and deliverables.
• FUNDRAISING: authored grants; identified and fostered relations with existing and potential donors.
• VISITOR ADVOCACY: championed audiences' needs and special interests within institutional policies and planning.

Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI), Seattle, US
Manager of Programs & Community Engagement ▪ January 2011 – August 2012
• LIFE-LONG LEARNING: in partnership with the Education Department, launched award-winning programs encouraging exploration, hands-on inquiry, problem-solving, and inter-generational interaction.   • COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: forged partnerships with community groups, businesses, donors, government offices, and individuals to further the museum’s community presence.
• PUBLIC HISTORY: managed collaborative public history projects focusing on original research and the acquisition, interpretation, and preservation of place, memory, oral history, and artifacts.
• FUNDRAISING: cultivated relationships with existing and potential funders; contributed to grant applications.
• PROGRAM DELIVERY & EVALUATION: presented courses, lectures, and tours while introducing  strategies for analyzing programmatic impact, potential, and growth.
• RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: oversaw departmental staff, contractors, volunteers and project budgets in the production of over 100 mission-driven programs, activities, and events per year.
• AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT: working with various media outlets and across department, introduced policies driving attendance and improving the museum’s public image during $97 million redevelopment project. • VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT & TRAINING: Oversaw the recruitment, training, and evaluation of public-facing volunteers for on and off-site programming.

Public Programs Manager ▪ January 2006 – December 2010
• PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION: created, managed, and executed over 60 educational events and activities per year.
• AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT: increased annual attendance to museum’s public programs by 15% in two years.
• COMMUNITY ADVOCACY: fostered partnerships with a variety of nonprofits, businesses, universities, and grass-roots organizations to promote community history. and cultural enrichment.
• HISTORICAL RESEARCH: conducted archival, interpersonal, and object-based research to develop content for exhibits, tours, on-line videos, lectures, and workshops.

Visitor Services Representative ▪ June – October 2005
• VISITOR SERVICES: provided daily orientation and information services to visitors, stakeholders, and educators.

University of Washington, Museology Department, Seattle, US
Adjunct Lecturer in Museology ▪ October 2011 – April 2012
• COURSE INSTRUCTION: instructed, evaluated, and mentored graduate students in Museological history, theory, management, and best practices.
• CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT: researched, assessed, and delivered new and established scholarship on museological practices and theory.  

University of Washington, Museology Department, Seattle, US
Adjunct Lecturer in Museology ▪ October 2011 – April 2012
• COURSE INSTRUCTION: instructed, evaluated, and mentored graduate students in Museological history, theory, management, and best practices.
• CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT: researched, assessed, and delivered new and established scholarship on museological practices and theory. 

University of Washington,  Department of History, Seattle, US
Teaching Assistant & Lecturer ▪ October 2002 – December 2004
• COURSE INSTRUCTION: responsible for the instruction and assessment of approximately 150 undergraduate students

National Archives of the United Kingdom, Kew, UK
Editorial and Interpretation Assistant ▪ January 2002 – April 2002
• ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT: assisted senior staff in preparing public exhibits, programs, and web-based curricula, including transcribing early-modern primary documents.

 Internships
 Burke Museum of Natural History, Seattle, WA, Collections Department (2003)
 National Archives, Washington DC, Education Department (2001)
 Minneapolis Institute of Arts & Minn. Historical Society, St. Paul/Minneapolis, Education Departments (2001)

 Related Professional Experience

Co-Organizer of New York City’s Content Strategists’ Networking Group, New York (2019-present) 

Advisory Board for Professional and Continuing Education, University of Washington, Seattle (2012)
Trustee/Board Secretary, Association of King County Historical Organizations, Seattle (2006–2009)
 Volunteer Researcher & Community Advocate, Fremont Historical Society, Seattle (2005–2012)

 Education & Training

• B.A., Double Major in History & German Studies, Macalester College, Saint Paul, MN 

• M.A., European History, University of Washington
                  - Master’s Thesis: The Scourge of God: Images of the Turk and European Identity
                  - Areas of Specialization: Early Modern Europe, Central Europe, Material Culture

• Graduate Certificate in Museology, University of Washington

• Certified Institutional Protection Manager, International Foundation for Cultural Property Management )

Publications

• “Why so Serious? Harnessing the Phenomenon of Fun in Museums,” Flourishing in Museums: Towards a Positive Museology. (December, 2023).

•“Fun with Purpose: A Framework for Sparking Behavioral Change in Exhibit Audiences,” Exhibition (Fall, 2020).

• Seattle’s Fremont, San Francisco: Arcadia Publishing (2006).

• “Alien Enemy Registration during World War I,” Social Education (September 2002).

Conference Presentations

• Designing to Place: Architecture and Exhibit Design for the New Milwaukee Public Museum, Building Museums Symposium for Mid-Atlantic Museums Associations (MAAM), St. Louis, MO (2025) •Unlocking the ‘Black Box’ of Museum Design Firms, National Council on Public History Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada (2025) • Staff or Independent Professional? Which Best Supports Your Well-Being?, American Alliance of Museums' (AAM) Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MA (2024). • Places of Power: Impactful Experiences with Urban Icons, The Inclusive Museum Annual Conference,  Lisbon, Portugal + Virtual, (2020). • F*#L: The Other Four-Letter Word, Alliance of American Museums' (AAM) Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO (2017)
• A Conversation on Creative Leadership, New York Museum Educators' Roundtable (NYCMER),  New York, NY (2017)
• Finding the Sweet Spot: Perfecting Participant and Institution Intersections, New York Museum Educators' Roundtable (NYCMER), Annual Conference, New York, NY (2016)
• The National Museum's Planned Rebuild: A Response to the Proceedings, Making Military History in Museums Conference, London, UK (2013)
• Leveraging Trends to Build New Audiences, Washington Museums Association (WMA) Annual Conference, Walla Walla, WA (2011)
• Building Community through History, Association for State and Local History (AASLH) Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN (2009)
• New School VS. Old School: Finding your way when the Ideal Get Real, Association of American Museums (AAM) Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, (2009)

Additional Skills & Interests

  • Enthusiastic, confident, & persuasive public speaker

  • Trained artifact handler

  • Mac/PC proficient

  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace; Airtable, Adobe, Zoom, & Miro

  • Experience with audio/video and interactive ideation and production 

  • Oral History practitioner & instructor 

  • Passion for the fine arts, theater, & design

  • Outdoor enthusiast; hiking, running, skiing

  • Member of American Alliance of Museums

  • Conversational German

  • 12 years of classical cello study and performance