GREENWICH, CONN.- The Bruce Museum adds three new faces to its staff next month, filling one permanent position in its Audience Engagement and Interpretive Services Department (formerly the Education Department), and adding two year-long fellows, one each in art and science.
Laura Stricker joins the Bruce Museum in September as Manager of Youth & Family Programs. Ms. Stricker comes to the Bruce from the Museum of London, where she was the institutions Early Years Coordinator. Previously, she worked as Manager of Early Childhood Programs at the National Childrens Museum in National Harbor, Maryland. Ms. Sticker holds an M.A. in Museum and Galleries in Education from the University of Londons Institute of Education where she specialized in the importance of family learning experiences in museums.
Ms. Stricker says that she is most excited about the Bruces dedication to providing engaging and innovative educational programming to its youth and family audiences, adding, It is an organization where I know my ideas and contributions will be supported and encouraged.
In September, Kate Dzikiewicz will join the Bruce Museums science department as the departments first Paul Griswold Howes Fellow. Kate recently earned a Master's Degree in Zoology at North Carolina State University where she studied growth patterns in the bones of crocodilians, and is currently serving as an Educational Experience Developer at the Smithsonian Institution. Her position is named in honor of Paul Griswold Howes, a renowned naturalist, artist, and explorer who served at the Bruce Museum from 1918 to 1965, first as assistant curator and later as curator-director. Kate's contributions to the museum will reflect this legacy, as she works to expand and enhance the Museums educational and exhibit-themed programming.
"The Bruce Museums dedication to public outreach and scientific education has made it a true asset to its community," says Kate, adding "I am excited to be a part of this undertaking."
Mia G. Laufer joins the Bruce Museum in September as the 2015-2016 Zvi Grunberg Resident Fellow. At the Bruce, Mia will be working with both curatorial and education departments, working on various curatorial projects and implementing public programs to complement the Museums art exhibitions. Ms. Laufer, a doctoral candidate in Art History at Washington University in St. Louis, has worked as a curatorial assistant on exhibitions for both the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum in St. Louis, and she taught art history at Washington University this summer. A native New Yorker, Mia has also worked as a curatorial intern at the Guggenheim.
On her new position at the Bruce, Ms. Laufer said, The Museums upcoming roster of shows will be of great interest to people living in Greenwich and the art historical community at large. I am really excited to get the opportunity to help the Bruces curatorial and education teams bring these fascinating programs to the public.