National Docents Symposium Council
Dedicated to providing an ongoing forum for docent education and the exchange of ideas since 1981
Guest Speakers
"It's the PERFECT Time"
Jane Chu, keynote speaker at the National Docent Symposium in Kansas City, brought a rich perspective
from her years as the chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts. She stated that whether you
are a docent, guide, gallery teacher, or educator, there has never been a better time to be involved in
your institution.
Reflecting on the power of poetry in art
by Gail Paredes-Ewen, Docent, Phoenix Art Museum
Recently, at the National Docent Symposium, we had the privilege of listening to a talk
given by poet, activist, educator, and Director of Inclusive Learning and Creative Impact at
the Kansas City Museum, Glenn North. Mr. North has a very impressive list of
accomplishments and collaborations and his title alone made me want to be him when I
grow up. But it was his poetry most of all that moved me and even brought me to tears.
Karleen Gardner, Director, Learning and Innovation at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA)
Ms. Gardner has been involved in Museum Education for 15 years; her team at MIA works to create art experiences that are accessible and meaningful to both adult and youth audiences. Using a visitor-centered focus, she works across museum departments to create programs, gallery content, and onsite/offsite experiences for visitors of all ages and abilities.
JiaJia Fei, Director of Digital, The Jewish Museum, New York
"The Digital Docent"
JiaJia Fei is a digital strategist working at the intersection of integrated marketing, branding, social media, web, email, mobile and multimedia content strategy for art and culture – making museums and cultural organizations more accessible through technology
She is currently the Director of Digital at the Jewish Museum in New York City, where she assumed the newly created position in January 2016. Prior to joining the Jewish Museum, JiaJia served as Associate Director, Digital Marketing, at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (2010-2015), bringing modern and contemporary art to a global online audience through award-winning digital projects.
JiaJia received her BA in the History of Art from Bryn Mawr College, and has lectured on social media and digital marketing worldwide, including Museums & the Web, CultureGeek, New York University, Sotheby's Art Institute, Fundacion Proa, TEDx and MIT Media Lab.
Nick Nissley, Ed.D.
“Engaging the Visitor: Arts-Based Dialogic Approaches and the Docent”
NINA SIMON
“The Participatory Museum”
Executive Director Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
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