Kristen Nesbitt Email & Phone Number

Berwyn, Il, Us

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Teach Exhibition Strategies course for online graduate program. Developed curriculum for online graduate seminar devoted to museums with living collections.

Chcago, Il

Provide organizational senior leadership and guidance to teams and projects, with emphasis on inclusion and mission-based strategy. Manage high level projects up to $10M to ensure efficient implementation. Serve on Anti-Racism task force to develop strategic DEI plan for museum. Lead Covid-19 response efforts around reopening the museum and maintaining safe protocols while supporting staff needs. Develop data-informed content strategies for large scale projects.

Chicago, Il

Provided operational oversight and strategic vision for Shedd’s exhibition planning, library and archive, exhibit maintenance and horticulture departments (annual operational budget of more than $2.1 M and 13 staff). Spearheaded new exhibition projects and capital renovations with budgets up to $1.5 M, coordinating interdisciplinary teams of staff and outside contractors. Incorporate exhibition evaluation to ensure Shedd is effectively serving its nearly 2 million visitors each year. Collaborate interdepartmentally to strategize integration of conservation education across experiences and implement branded communications and campaigns to tell Shedd’s stories. Initiated and led Shedd’s award-winning Accessibility and Inclusion initiative, an organization-wide effort to improve the experience for people with disabilities. Developed proposals to obtain funding from IMLS, foundations and private donors for the initiative.

Led exhibit planning and design, exhibit fabrication and maintenance, information services and archive, and horticulture programs departments. Provided creative direction and project management for Amphibians special exhibit, At Home on the Great Lakes, and Amazon Rising "refresh" exhibitions. Initiated and structured Shedd's Accessibility and Inclusion initiatives and oversaw an IMLS grant to improve Shedd's experiences for people who are blind or have low vision.

Managed library/archive and horticulture departments, initiating and implementing gardens master plan and interpretive program. Developed highly successful Jellies special exhibition. Served as core team member completing planning for organization-wide, multi-year Great Lakes and sustainability initiatives and strategic planning for Shedd’s education programs.

From conceptual planning through opening, carried out all phases of exhibit development for Oceanarium Reimagined, a $50 million renovation of Shedd’s marine mammal pavilion. Researched and developed Polar Play Zone, a permanent exhibit for families with children 2-7.

Develop exhibitions and programs to engage diverse audiences of all ages at organizations ranging from zoos and botanic gardens to history and art museums and national parks. Services include interpretive planning, conceptual, program, and content development, label writing, and evaluation. My work has appeared at: Speed Art Museum; Morton Arboretum; Isle a La Cache Museum, Georgia Aquarium; Greensboro Historical Museum; Jacksonville Zoo; Cleveland Metroparks Zoo; Adventure Aquarium; various NPS sites. and other locations throughout the U.S.

Ankara, Turkey

Taught English-language writing skills to graduate and undergraduate students. Developed curriculum for and taught conversational English classes at METU, with focus on developing skills for business and academic English for undergraduate-level students.

Chicago, Il

Collaborated with team of designers, educators, scientists to create Amazon Rising: Seasons of the River, part of a $65 million master plan. Participated in and led an extensive series of front-end, formative, remedial, and summative visitor studies to increase the effectiveness of exhibit elements and the exhibition as a whole.

West Chester, Pa

Researched and developed exhibits for History Lab, an interactive gallery for families, providing more opportunities for family learning. Collaborated with educators and staff to create award-winning local history curriculum for third graders. Guided tours and greeted visitors.

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, English Language And Literature/Letters

Activities and Societies: Magna cum laude Phi Beta KappaMagna cum Laude, Honors in English, Phi Beta Kappa Society. Coursework in American.

Master Of Arts - Ma, Folklore

Thesis: Angel Babies: Women's Webs of Loss and Transformation. Co-coordinated “Curriculum, Music and Community Project,” a curriculum.