Expert Details
Expert in Museums, Public/Cultural Sites, and Gallery/Exhibition Spaces
ID: 740431
Kentucky, USA
Expert previously served as Director of the Florence Griswold Museum, where she led the institution through a transformative period of growth, overseeing strategic planning, a $20 million fundraising campaign, and a significant increase in endowment value. Her expertise in financial oversight, board relations, fundraising, and institutional planning has made her a trusted figure in the museum sector, particularly in matters of mission-driven financial sustainability.
In addition to her executive roles, Expert is a respected voice in museum finance and governance, serving as the Series Editor for the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) Book Series and as a Board Member of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). She has helped shape industry standards as an AAM Accreditation Commissioner and peer reviewer, ensuring best practices across the museum field. As an adjunct professor at Connecticut College, she led the first undergraduate course dedicated to museum financial management.
Her experience in museum operations includes leadership role at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, where she managed financial planning, corporate sponsorships, and operational logistics for a premier academic museum. She has also held positions in historical societies, arts organizations, and educational institutions, contributing to exhibition curation, cultural site management, and scholarly publications.
An accomplished author and speaker, Expert has published extensively on museum finance, historic preservation, and institutional strategy, with multiple books and articles to her credit. She is a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences, addressing critical issues in museum sustainability, financial planning, and governance. Her leadership and scholarly contributions continue to shape the museum field, ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of cultural institutions across the country.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 2017 | Degree: PhD | Subject: American and New England Studies | Institution: Boston University |
| Year: 2009 | Degree: MA | Subject: Arts Administration | Institution: Columbia University |
| Year: 2005 | Degree: MA | Subject: Art History & Museum Studies | Institution: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee |
| Year: 2003 | Degree: BA | Subject: American Studies | Institution: George Washington University |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2022 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: President & CEO | Department: |
Responsibilities:AAM-accredited museum of fine art housed in a circa1820 National Historic Landmark building in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.• Guiding staff and Board of Directors through multi-year institutional planning process and preparation for annual reaccreditation by the American Alliance of Museums. • Designing new operating and reporting structures following the completion of a $12.9 million capital restoration project. • Representing the museum in public engagement with colleague arts institutions, funders, business partners, and the Cincinnati community. • Leading a staff of 84 employees, including 8 direct reports, as well as a volunteer corps of 100 docents, educators, and volunteers. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2018 to 2022 | Employer: Florence Griswold Museum | Title: Director | Department: |
Responsibilities:AAM-accredited historic campus, National Historic Landmark house museum, and modern exhibition space dedicated to American art, history, and landscape.• Drove all institutional planning and capacity-building activities, including the creation and execution of the 2021-2026 strategic plan, the launch of a $20 million comprehensive campaign, and ongoing endowment analysis, which resulted in a 41% increase in its market value over four years. • Provided strategic vision for all activities related to exhibitions, publications, acquisitions, and historic property, fine art, and archives management. • Oversaw Museum finances, including an operational budget of $3 million, capital, technological, and special project budgets, and an endowment of $24 million. • Led a team of 23 staff members and over 200 volunteers, supervising all operations (dining services, revenue generation, merchandising and sales, facilities, etc.), planning, and fundraising initiatives. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2014 to 2018 | Employer: Bowdoin College Museum of Art | Title: Associate Director | Department: |
Responsibilities:Responsible for all operations of the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, an academic museum with an annual budget of $3.1 million that organizes between 15 and 20 exhibitions per calendar year. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2014 to 2016 | Employer: Modern Intellectual History | Title: Managing Editor | Department: |
Responsibilities:Administrative editor for Modern Intellectual History, an academic journal published quarterly by Cambridge University Press. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2009 to 2013 | Employer: Winchester Historical Society | Title: Executive Director | Department: |
Responsibilities:Managed all operations of the Winchester Historical Society and its cultural site, the Sanborn House Historical and Cultural Center. Directed all development, outreach, marketing, collections, and programming activities of the organization. |
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Government Experience
| Years | Agency | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2014 to Present | Agency: National Endowment for the Arts | Role: Grant Reviewer | Description: Review of applications from arts organizations for funding |
| Years: 2014 to Present | Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities | Role: Grants Reviewer | Description: Review of applications from humanities organizations for funding |
| Years: 2014 to Present | Agency: Institute for Museum and Library Services | Role: Grants Reviewer | Description: Review of applications from libraries and museums for funding |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| • Association of Art Museum Directors • American Alliance of Museums • American Association for State and Local History • New England Museum Association • Connecticut Humanities |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| • Book Series Editor, American Association for State and Local History • Board of Directors, American Alliance of Museums • Treasurer, Chair & Faculty, American Association for State and Local History • Peer Reviewer, National Endowment for the Humanities • Peer Reviewer, Institute of Museum and Library Services |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| • Publications: 22 • Invited Speaking & Teaching Engagements: 43 • Additional Conferences/Symposia: 15 |
Fields of Expertise
museum, tourism, Ticketing, purchasing, museum leadership, museum financial management, cultural heritage preservation, historic house museums, arts administration, museum governance, institutional planning, endowment, fundraising strategy, museum board relations, museum operations, public history, historic preservation, academic research, nonprofit financial sustainability, historic site management, museum publishing, editorial leadership