Nora Gorman
Group Sales & Docent Program Coordinator
New-York Historical Society
Statement of Interest:
NYCMER’s essential resources help educators build authentic relationships, navigate an atypical professional environment, and develop skills not taught on the job or in school. While informal education is ideally suited to strengthening democracy, equity, and understanding in our society, museums struggle to articulate their value, and educators—highly equipped to lead change informed by audiences’ needs—are sidelined. I’m excited about the Board as a place to build advocacy strategies and partnerships that elevate our profession. My track record in marketing programs and expansive interpretation of the meaning of our work would make me an asset in these areas. As an experienced volunteer coordinator, I contribute a demonstrated passion for developing educators, emotional intelligence, and communication skills. Having worked interdisciplinarily and in curatorial, collections, and library settings across NYC, I also offer a unique perspective that would make me an effective connector between educators working in a variety of settings.
Goals for NYCMER:
Given the idiosyncrasies and inequities of the museum field, career roadmaps for educators are unpredictable, and mentorship is essential—even if it is under-utilized field-wide. Having coordinated professional development events as Co-President of NYU’s undergraduate Fine Arts Society, I’d love to help NYCMER explore avenues for mentorship and the development of emerging professionals. I’m also deeply interested in advancing research and teaching practices around adult audiences, especially seniors; this section of our field needs greater collaboration and advocacy. Finally, I hope to create opportunities for NYCMER members to continue developing flexible, education-adjacent skills in topics like evaluation and community engagement.
Professional Experience:
I am Group Sales and Docent Program Coordinator at the New-York Historical Society and a Leadership in Museum Education Master’s candidate at Bank Street. I handle N-YHS’ group visits for non-K-12 groups and support docent training and evaluation. In 5 years, I have spearheaded the growth of community outreach and virtual programs, managed tour bookings for a blockbuster exhibition, and streamlined audience development efforts. I was previously a Family Programs educator at The Met Cloisters. I hold an arts administration certificate from UPenn and National Arts Strategies and studied Art History and History as an undergrad at NYU.
Optional Links:
Twitter: @noramgorman / LinkedIn: Linked In