- More than 50 years of professional experience in museum education
- Experienced teacher at elementary, high school and college levels
- Skilled at relating new and complex ideas to both children and adults
- Capable storyteller, public speaker, and panel participant and moderator
- Extensive experience working with and teaching about traditional African, ancient Egyptian, and Native American art
- Effective manager and leader; Innovative and organized
_____________________________________
MUSEUM & UNIVERSITY STAFF POSITIONS
Adjunct Faculty Member
Parsons School of Design, The New School University
New York, New York
September 1993—present
New York City College of Technology
Brooklyn, New York
September 2013—2020
- Undergraduate Course: African Art — The content of this broadly focused course, taught at both Parsons and CUNY, focuses on traditional West African culture groups. Images and dialog are used to introduce students to the art of these groups, and audio-visual materials are used to provide additional background information used to generate discussions regarding the traditional life ways of these peoples, and to explore the connection between those life ways and the art they produced. The course focuses on three aspects of African art and culture, starting with an introduction to traditional religious and philosophical thought. This is followed by an overview of ancient kingdoms, and an overview of village communities.
- Undergraduate Course: NYC: Exhibitions — This course focuses on museums, art galleries and auction houses in the city of New York. These institutions are repositories of material culture that promote public education and personal growth. Students learn about the practices these institutions use to collect, protect, preserve and educate. In addition to classroom lectures, writing assignments, group discussions, research and class presentations, the course also involve trips to a variety of New York City art galleries, auction houses, and museums.
_____________________________________
Senior Project Developer, Collections Department, Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Brooklyn, New York
December 1999—June 2009
- Assisted a team of museum professional with the design, development, and facilitation of a project funded by the National Foundation for the Humanities. The Museum’s collection department houses more than 27,000 cultural and natural history objects, and the project, entitled Collections Central, sought to give the public greater access to these objects. Responsibilities included heading the development team, designing and testing the many elements of the facility, and then researching, planning, and installing short and long-term exhibitions using the new facility. Also developed public programs for school groups and family events, and assisted Museum educators with the use of objects as part of their gallery tours.
_____________________________________
Director of Education, Museum for African Art
New York, New York
May 1996—August 1998
- Directed and oversaw the day-to-day activities and long-term planning for the Museum’s education department, starting with a major reorganization, including the scope and production of educational materials such as teacher’s manuals, gallery activity sheets, and lecture transcripts. Designed orientation programs for, and supervised the training of, volunteer educators. Strengthened and expanded the Museum’s relationships with local schools and other cultural institutions. Planned all education programs relating to the Museum’s exhibitions and developed and wrote successful grant proposals for education programs independent of exhibitions. Produced and edited the museum’s handbook, An Introduction to African Art. Developed and wrote educational materials for the Museum’s web site. Lectured at other museums and cultural institutions on issues related to museum education and traditional African art and culture, and represented the museum at various professional conferences, panels, and other gatherings.
_____________________________________
Museum Educator/Coordinator of Education interns
The Brooklyn Museum of Art
Brooklyn, New York
February 1988—May 1996
- Created interpretative lessons for all of the museum’s galleries. Wrote teaching manuals for the African and Egyptian exhibitions. Worked closely with the African and Egyptian curators to develop exhibition texts. Trained and supervised all education interns. Designed and conducted teacher-training workshops. Represented the museum’s education department as a public speaker, panel participant, and storyteller at other institutions and professional gatherings.
_____________________________________
Smithsonian Institution Lecturer
West African Adventure, Crystal Cruise Line
Atlantic African Coastline
October 2001
- Through a Smithsonian Institution/Crystal Cruise Line affiliation, served as a lecturer focusing on the traditional art and culture of each port-of-call as part of a three-week cruise up the Atlantic African coast, from Cape Town to Las Palmas.
_____________________________________
Education Specialist and Art Handler
The Center for African Art
New York, New York
August 1984—February 1988
- Started with assisting in completing the setup of the new museum's galleries and admissions desk setup. Once the Museum opened, was responsible for variety of tasks concerning public aspects of the museum, ranging from the front reception desk and catalog sales to security. Conducted tours of exhibitions. Assisted with the general installation of new exhibitions including packing, unpacking, and preparation of objects. Developed particular skills in creating custom mounts for objects.
_____________________________________
Artist-in Residence
The Studio Museum in Harlem
New York, New York
October 1982—September 1983
- Awarded one of three annual 11-month residencies, with a studio space at the Museum alongside Conducted tours of the artist’s studio for the public. Designed and led art making workshops for community school and youth groups.
_____________________________________
Education Specialist, Theater
The Virginia Museum of Fine Art
Richmond, Virginia
September 1974-—June 1975
- Conducted several multi-generational workshops in drama and dance for studio performance. Choreographed a Native American dance scene in the museum theater’s production of the play Indians.
_____________________________________
Museum Educator
The Valentine Museum
Richmond, Virginia
June 1970—September 1971
- Researched and produced an audio-visual program on the history of local Native American peoples. Supervised museum volunteers and conducted tours for school groups and families.
_____________________________________
LECTURER: AFRICAN ART AND MUSEUM EDUCATION
- Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada, January 1999
- Newark Museum, Newark, New Jersey, December and November 1998, and November 1997
- The Queens Museum, Queens, New York, May 1998 and 1997
- Georgia Museum of Art, Athens, Georgia, January 1997
- The Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, New York, October 1997
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts, September 1997
- The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, New York, July 1997
- The Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn, New York, July 1997
- Bank Street, Board of Advisors/Museum Leadership and New York City Museum Educators Roundtable, April 1998
_____________________________________
RELATED EXPERIENCE
Education Associate
NYC Board of Education
New York, New York
August 1978—September 1982
- Conducted Youth Employment and Training workshops for teenagers. Used lectures and video to develop communications skills.
_____________________________________
Strand Bookstore
New York, New York
1977—1978
- Transitional job that resulted in many life-long friendships, and a basic understanding and interest in object management.
_____________________________________
Prentice Hall Media
Tarrytown, New York
1975—1976
- Researched, edited, and produced an educational filmstrip on the history and production of electronic music.
_____________________________________
EDUCATION
- Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond Virginia, B. S. Degree, Elementary Education, 1975.