Cat Scharon Email & Phone Number

I'm a researcher-practitioner: half academic, half museum professional, and wholly committed to improving informal learning.My ultimate goal is to explore and promote the learning value of museums, zoos, aquariums, and other out-of-school time programs. Through my work, I hope to use evaluation and research to interrogate and dismantle barriers to create more inclusive and equitable spaces for social, emotional, and cognitive learning.In a career spanning 15 years of in-house and external roles in informal education organizations, I have developed a nuanced understanding of the ways that non-profit professionals work (or, sometimes fail to work) together towards mission-based learning. I hold an MA in Museology with a focus on evaluation and STEM education, and have engaged in doctoral coursework in out-of-school learning and improvement science. I am always excited to connect with the visitor studies field and GLAM practitioners to learn new ways of using data to advocate for the needs of guests, communities, and cultural workers.Interests: Museums, zoos, aquariums, out-of-school learning, informal science education, free-choice learning, identity development, science identity, museum-school partnerships, project-based learning, qualitative research methods, exhibition development, UX/UI testing.Research Skills: Qualitative and quantitative research methods including interviews, focus groups, document analysis, ethnographic observation, surveys, and participatory methods. Data analysis using Excel, SPSS, NVivo, and Dedoose. Data visualization and reporting using Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Tableau, Canva, and Adobe products.

Listed skills include Museums, Grants, Nonprofit Organizations, Editing, and 18 others.