I write about my search for solace in art and nature, lessons learned often in the most unexpected ways.
I serve and facilitate by applying lessons learned to issues we face, as we navigate the present and future of museums for visitors and for those of us who work within these cherished places.
she/her/hers
CEO, The Solace Project
Former President & CEO NYBG
Former Deputy Director, The Met
Former Curator of American Art, The Met
PhD, CUNY // MA UCLA // BA U of I, Chicago // Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership, Columbia Business School // Certificate in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Brown University
Board member American Alliance of Museums // American Public Gardens Association // Omega Institute for Holistic Studies Stewardship Council
Museums and public gardens—-keepers of art, science, plants, hopes and history—are vital to America’s infrastructure of education, health, and economic growth. Now more than ever, the comfort and community created by viewing art, listening to music, walking in nature is essential to our lives. We gather in these spaces for shared experience and reinvigoration of our spirit. The value proposition of cultural institutions regards human wellness with care. We create social prescriptions for cultural and natural observation that encourages creativity, curiosity, and community.
I have lived these beliefs and have deployed my growth and resilience mindset into organizational behavior in top art and science institutions.
Now, I help museums, gardens, and cultural organizations navigate moments of change so they emerge focused, resilient, and ready for their next chapter.
At The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Botanical Garden, I guided teams, strengthened governance, and built programs that connect art, nature, and community. I am known for steady leadership, strategic clarity, and for leaving organizations stronger and more self-sufficient. Now I leverage everything I’ve learned to help organizations through transitions in mission, leadership, scale and ambition.
I consult, lecture, and curate, and leave projects and organization in better shape then when I found them. I believe leadership is measured not only by what you build, but by how well an organization thrives after you step away.