Joanna Cagan Email & Phone Number

Lafayette, Colorado

• Responsible for the leadership and management of the Museum and its mission: engaging all families in educational, hands-on experiences that connect curiosity, creativity, and discovery. Oversee implementation of core values and strategic direction. Overall operational responsibility for staff, visitors, volunteers, programming, finances, and reputation of the organization in the community. • Build and nurture relationships with external partners. Serve as primary ambassador for WOW!… Show more • Responsible for the leadership and management of the Museum and its mission: engaging all families in educational, hands-on experiences that connect curiosity, creativity, and discovery. Oversee implementation of core values and strategic direction. Overall operational responsibility for staff, visitors, volunteers, programming, finances, and reputation of the organization in the community. • Build and nurture relationships with external partners. Serve as primary ambassador for WOW! in the community. Identify and engage in outreach to potential community partners, with emphasis on mutually beneficial relationships that advance the Museum’s mission, reputation, and funding. Participate in outreach and networking events and identify opportunities to showcase the Museum to existing and potential stakeholders and partners. • Collaborate with staff and content experts on exhibis, aligned with and guided by WOW!’s values, strategic plan, learning approach and aesthetic standards. Evaluate exhibits and programs for impact and effectiveness, Identify and prioritize resources critical to delivery of high-quality exhibits and education programming. Mentor and evaluate staff with an eye toward personal growth, professional outcomes and program delivery.• Create and manage approved budget to ensure financial viability. Work with leadership team on comprehensive marketing, communications, and development plans designed to expand and diversify the donor base, meet and exceed revenue objectives, and maximize impact on programmatic opportunities. Play a primary role in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding key funders to increase participation and contributions.• Help build and maintain a diverse and inclusive Board. Serve as an ex-officio member of each Board committee, providing candid and expert guidance on major challenges and opportunities related to strategic planning, operational systems, finances, and community reputation. Show less

Denver

• Manage Denver Zoo’s award-winning Nurturing Scientists Through Nature Play, a preschool partnership between urban preschools and the Zoo, designed to empower young children to be scientists and teacher/caregivers to feel comfortable in nature and with child-led, play-based learning.• Manage Denver Zoo’s suite of onsite educational programs for preschool and elementary age children, families and teachers. Responsibilities include management of program development and implementation… Show more • Manage Denver Zoo’s award-winning Nurturing Scientists Through Nature Play, a preschool partnership between urban preschools and the Zoo, designed to empower young children to be scientists and teacher/caregivers to feel comfortable in nature and with child-led, play-based learning.• Manage Denver Zoo’s suite of onsite educational programs for preschool and elementary age children, families and teachers. Responsibilities include management of program development and implementation, ensuring successful utilization of backwards-design planning and evaluation, incorporation of best practices in informal education and alignment with Zoo and departmental mission and goals.• Serve as a liaison with community partners, including schools, school district leaders, teachers, families, community organizations and leaders, informal education colleagues, and other internal and external partners. • Supervise and mentor the Early Childhood Programs team, hiring, training, evaluating and fostering their growth. Advise staff on curriculum development methodologies and tools in order to develop, implement, promote, and evaluate effective educational programming; key areas of focus include nature play programming, STEM programming, and the appropriate integration of technology in zoo education programming. • Work closely with Director and Vice President for Learning Experiences, as well as other departmental leaders, to determine strategic direction of future programming Show less

Greater New York City Area

• Managed the staff and daily operations for the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx-Zoo-based Professional Development department.• Supervised and mentored staff in the conceptualization, development, and implementation of a broad spectrum of mission-driven educational programs for pre-service and in-service Pre-K-12 teachers, informal educators, undergraduate and graduate students, community members, and international audiences; on-site, off-site and online.• Supervised the… Show more • Managed the staff and daily operations for the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx-Zoo-based Professional Development department.• Supervised and mentored staff in the conceptualization, development, and implementation of a broad spectrum of mission-driven educational programs for pre-service and in-service Pre-K-12 teachers, informal educators, undergraduate and graduate students, community members, and international audiences; on-site, off-site and online.• Supervised the Advanced Inquiry Program, an innovative graduate degree partnership with Project Dragonfly at Miami University. Supervised and collaborated on course development and facilitation, as well as program advisement for graduate students. Served as adjunct professor at Miami University for instruction of AIP courses.• Managed day-to-day operation of Professional Development Department activities. Coordinated, scheduled, and organized courses; maintained relationships with partner organizations for services provided. Supervised program development, implementation and assessment and evaluation.• Supported the Director of Educational Research and Program Development in grant program development, management, implementation, evaluation and assessment. Managed the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Pablo Python digital learning grant, designed to re-imagine a popular curriculum for the digital era Show less

New York City

• Responsible for the development and launch of the Advanced Inquiry Program, an innovative master's degree partnership with Project Dragonfly and Miami University. • Developed, facilitated and assessed professional development programs for educators (formal and informal educators; pre-service and in-service teachers).• Coordinated the federally funded FIPSE (Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education) grant between WCS, The New… Show more • Responsible for the development and launch of the Advanced Inquiry Program, an innovative master's degree partnership with Project Dragonfly and Miami University. • Developed, facilitated and assessed professional development programs for educators (formal and informal educators; pre-service and in-service teachers).• Coordinated the federally funded FIPSE (Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education) grant between WCS, The New York Botanical Garden, and Lehman College. Designed and taught the Lehman College (City University of New York) graduate course, “Learning and Teaching Science in Childhood Settings,” and taught additional Lehman College graduate courses.• Collaborated with the American Museum of Natural History and with the New York City Department of Education and other cultural partners in partnership with the Urban Advantage Program (UA) to ensure the overall success of the program; including active and meaningful contribution to design, planning, implementation, facilitation and evaluation of all UA related activities and events.• Wrote syllabi, planned agendas, developed lesson plans and prepared materials for professional development courses for educators that were wildlife- and conservation-focused, goal- oriented, innovative and aligned with today’s academic standards and framework. Show less

Greater New York City Area

• Coordinated daily school and general audience programs in the Bronx Zoo’s award-winning education department. Developed and nurtured relationships with area schools, districts and administrators, community-based organizations and general target audiences. Negotiated contracts with schools and other entities, created and maintained classroom calendar and schedule, responded to wide-ranging daily needs of programs that serve over 10,000 students… Show more • Coordinated daily school and general audience programs in the Bronx Zoo’s award-winning education department. Developed and nurtured relationships with area schools, districts and administrators, community-based organizations and general target audiences. Negotiated contracts with schools and other entities, created and maintained classroom calendar and schedule, responded to wide-ranging daily needs of programs that serve over 10,000 students annually.• Developed, assessed and reviewed education program materials, including lesson-plan content and instructional delivery, in order to maintain and enhance strong mission- based and pedagogically appropriate lessons and lesson implementation. Collaborated with WCS scientists to create curriculum that reflect current global conservation concerns, strategies and tools -- from climate change challenges to the use of GIS in conservation biology.• Taught school, family and summer programs, for students ranging from pre-K through adult. Developed and taught training course for new docents. Mentored and assisted in supervising instructors and teaching-fellows.• Promoted education programs through advertising and outreach. Acted as liaison with internal WCS departments to establish strong communication, and with general public to ensure excellent relationships and program delivery. Provided editorial support for a range of departmental writing projects. Show less

Greater New York City Area

• Developed and taught standards-based family and school programming for a wide-range of students, with an emphasis on pre-K to 6th grade, but including adult and family audiences.• Integrated inquiry-based, wildlife conservation themes into biological sciences, math and English language arts lessons. Handled over 20 different animal species for use in classroom presentations. Mentored and helped train seasonal teaching fellows.

Ny, Ny

• Co-author, Field of Schemes: How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money into Private Profit(Common Courage Press, April 1998; revised edition University of Nebraska Press, April 2008). Edited for arange of clients. Wrote for the Village Voice, The New York Times Magazine, Interview, and other publications.

Masters Of Science In Childhood Education, Elementary Education And Teaching, 4.0

Certificate In Conservation Biology -- Center For Environmental Research And Conservation

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Political Science, 3.7

Activities and Societies: With Honors; Phi Betta Kappa; Rutgers College Honors Program English minor, editor at The Daily Targum.