Senior Manager of Exhibits at National Children's Museum
Years as a Camper:
Sadly, none.
Years as a Staff Member:
2011 and 2012
Did you hold any positions?
Alpine Tower Chief in 2012, Cabin 18 loyalist
Current Profession and Title/Years in role:
Senior Manager of Exhibits at National Children’s Museum (Washington, DC). I’ve been working in museums on and off for 10 years, and at NCM for almost 6 years.
Can you provide a brief overview of your job responsibilities?
In my current role I am responsible for designing, building and maintaining exhibit experiences at the National Children’s Museum. We are a museum that focuses on hands-on, interactive experiences for children from birth to age 12 and their families.
Do you have any career advice for members of our Camp community?
Decide what you value most from a career. Do you want to a job that gives you the financial freedom to afford all the things that bring you joy outside of work? Or do you want a job that you genuinely enjoying doing, but may not be the highest paying job? After you’ve made that decision, and your chosen job stops providing you with either financial fulfillment or work fulfillment, it’s time to explore other opportunities. If you can find a job that provides you with both, never leave! Also remember, you are your own best advocate and always bet on yourself.
What do you believe have been some of your greatest personal and professional accomplishments? Is there a goal toward which you are currently working?
Personally, I am really proud of the life that I’ve built in DC. It’s really easy to feel lost in your 20s, and finding the things that bring you joy is really important. My husband and I starting rock climbing a year ago (bringing back my old Alpine Tower skills!) I’m really proud of the improvement we’ve made. Currently I am working up the courage to start lead climbing!
Professionally, I’m proud of the work/life balance I’ve found in my job. Working in a career that fulfills you can mean that you often allow the scales to get tipped too far into the work side of work/life balance. I’ve worked hard to set boundaries that allow myself to not get too consumed by the work.
How do the values or skills you learned at Camp show up in your everyday work and/or personal life?
I really believe that Camp made me the person I am today. Camp taught me to be an empathetic friend and a confident leader. Camp also taught me to not take myself or life too seriously.
Is there a person or a situation that had a huge influence on you while you were at Camp? How and why did they/it impact you?
There are entirely too many people to name here. The people I met at Camp allowed me to be me in a way I never had before. I must say my husband though. I met him on my first day at Camp in 2011, and we got married in the old dining hall in 2018.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Get to know yourself and figure out what brings you joy. Try new things, travel as much as you can and lean on the friends you have and the new ones you’ll make along the way. The community you surround yourself with will be there for you in ways you never thought you’d need.
What three words best describe you?
Loyal, silly and determined.
What is your favorite camp memory?
There are too many to pick a favorite, but late nights in the Hilton kitchen will always hold a special place in my heart.
