Shelagh Barrington, Gallery Guide, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Canada (Summer, 2022)

In this 40th Ruby Anniversary year of NDSC we are highlighting the efforts of dedicated volunteers to bring Best Practices to our docent/guide community.

Pictured here, left to right, are Betsy Vourlekis, Docent, Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art/Charles Lang Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington, DC; Jan Thorman, Docent, Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; and Lindsay McAuliffe, Docent, Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art/Charles Lang Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington, DC.

These three experienced docents took on the task of researching and writing the NDSC handbook Touring with Children and Teens. Their combined backgrounds, input from other docents and guides, and extensive research have resulted in a professional and engaging roadmap for docent/guides.

Joanne Eudy, Docent, The Wadsworth Atheneum

The Wadsworth Atheneum Docent Council celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2018.  The Council continues to evolve, lead and inspire.

Renee Reese, Docent, The Mint Museum

Docents at the Mint Museum in Charlotte, NC are an affiliate group of the museum and are part of the Learning and Engagement Department. Training and guidance from the department is critical to our success of our tours and to our personal growth as museum educators.

Former Director of Learning and Engagement, Cheryl Palmer, was recently honored by our docents for her 35 years of service at the museum. Cheryl began her time at the Mint as Curator of Education and then as Director. Before she retired, she oversaw the department’s renaming as Learning and Engagement, a better reflection of the museum’s commitment to our visitors.

Bill Sitzer, SLAM/Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, MO

This tribute is to honor Renée Brummel Franklin, a staff member at the Saint Louis Art Museum.

In January of 2021, Renée became the museum’s first chief diversity officer. Previously she had been director of audience engagement. She has been part of the museum’s staff since 1998. During this time, she played a critical role in expanding community programs and reaching new and diverse audiences.

Mary Carmody, SLAM/Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, MO

If you were to look for an exemplar of docent dedication and leadership, you’d find Gin Wachter.