About Me

I’m a creative leader, storyteller, and experience-maker who loves finding ways to connect people with art and learning. I’m especially interested in how stories, interactives, and design can help people engage with the art they’re seeing and experiencing—making complex ideas feel accessible, relevant, and personal. My approach is people-centered and collaborative, with a focus on creating inclusive, empathetic experiences that bring different perspectives and community voices into the story. I want people to look a little closer, ask questions, think differently, and find their own way into the experience. Originally from San Francisco, I spent 10 years in Los Angeles before relocating to the Midwest. I enjoy the collaborative and often messy process of bringing different perspectives together, figuring out what matters, and turning big ideas into something people can connect with. Outside of work, I’m usually growing something in the garden, trying to get to the beach whenever I can, listening to a podcast, playing board games or working on a very large puzzle with my family, and appreciating the many charms of orange cats.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields January 2009 – July 2026

Progressively expanded leadership responsibility over 17 years, evolving from photography and visual communications into creative direction, narrative and content strategy, interpretation, experience design, publishing, multimedia, and multidisciplinary project leadership. Led the development of audience-centered content and experiences with art and nature across exhibitions, galleries, publications, digital platforms, and campus environments, aligning creative vision with Newfields’ educational mission and institutional priorities.

Supervised and led a multidisciplinary creative team spanning content strategy, interpretation, experiential design, photography, media, and publishing, providing creative direction, mentorship, and strategic leadership while establishing shared vision, priorities, and collaborative processes across multiple concurrent projects.
Led content, narrative, and experience development for 60+ exhibitions and permanent gallery installations, guiding projects from initial concept and narrative strategy through design, production, and opening.
Served as lead interpreter and project leader, developing narrative frameworks, exhibition theses, learning and experiential outcomes, interpretive plans, content strategies, and gallery engagement approaches that translated scholarly research into accessible, relevant, and engaging visitor experiences.
Led multidisciplinary teams of curators, designers, educators, media producers, photographers, writers, and external partners through complex, multi-year projects, establishing project frameworks, priorities, decision-making processes, and deliverables.
Developed and refined cross-departmental project-development processes that strengthened collaboration, clarified roles and decision-making, and improved coordination across complex multidisciplinary initiatives.
Partnered with interdepartmental museum teams to shape institutional approaches to audience engagement, storytelling, and experience development.
Developed audience-centered approaches to storytelling that integrated scholarly research, audience insights, community perspectives, accessibility, and multiple forms of engagement across physical and digital experiences.
Built partnerships with local artists, community organizations, activists, educators, and other external stakeholders, incorporating lived experience and community expertise into creative strategy, content development, and audience experiences.
Provided creative direction across exhibitions, multimedia experiences, photography, digital interactives, publications, and other audience-facing content, ensuring cohesive visual and narrative experiences across platforms; served on the editorial board for Newfields’ member magazine and oversaw 20+ print publications and multiple digital catalogues.
Managed department and project budgets, schedules, vendors, contractors, contracts, deliverables, and workflows across multiple concurrent initiatives, strengthening cross-functional coordination and resource allocation to support effective project delivery; oversaw documentation strategies and systems for exhibitions, collections, campus spaces, and audience experiences.
Integrated formative evaluation, visitor feedback, audience research, and summative evaluation findings into content and experience development, using insights to refine interpretive strategies and improve audience outcomes; supported grant development, fundraising, donor cultivation, and stewardship through project development, presentations, storytelling, and exhibition experiences.
Represented Newfields through conference presentations, professional writing, and knowledge-sharing focused on interpretation, visual communications, audience engagement, and collaborative experience development.

Jupiter Images | SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR April 2006 – August 2007

Led and managed an international network of 100+ photographers, providing editorial direction, creative guidance, and strategic oversight.
Directed all aspects of photo shoot production and art direction, including creative development, location selection, casting, wardrobe and prop styling, budgets, schedules, and production teams.
Evaluated photographer submissions and recruited new photographers to strengthen and expand the company's visual collection.
Edited photographic submissions and selected imagery for inclusion in a large-scale commercial image collection.
Partnered with marketing teams to shape visual content strategy, establish priorities, and guide future photo production.

Distinction Magazine, Los Angeles Times | PHOTO EDITOR August 2003 – April 2006

Led photography strategy and production across editorial, fashion, portrait, architecture, still-life, and advertising projects.
Art directed and produced photo shoots, managing photographers, crews, locations, casting, budgets, contracts, insurance, and production logistics.
Collaborated with editors and creative leadership to establish visual direction and select imagery for publication.
Managed image selection, digital retouching, color correction, prepress, and production workflows.
Served as liaison between the art department and production/color laboratory, managing color balance, color management, and preparation of photographic assets for print.
Maintained department budgets, image databases, artwork, layouts, and production schedules.

Emilie Muller Productions | PRODUCTION COORDINATOR November 2002 – April 2004

Coordinated and associate-produced editorial, national advertising, and catalog photo shoots and events.
Managed production logistics including casting, scheduling, locations, crews, and client coordination.
Served as casting director for commercial and editorial productions.

Selected Clients: Anchor Blue, Buckle, IBM, Mandalay Bay, Microsoft, Nestlé, Vaseline, Visa, Quixtar

Catherine Ledner Photography, Inc | STUDIO ASSISTANT October 2001 – May 2003

Supported production and coordination of photo shoots ranging from editorial projects to large-scale international advertising campaigns.
Assisted with photography, casting, location scouting, wardrobe and prop styling, and production logistics.
Worked across complex commercial productions involving multiple creative teams, vendors, and client stakeholders.

Selected Clients/Campaigns: American Express, Anheuser-Busch, Got Milk, Kodak, Getty Images, Mattel, McAfee, The New York Times, Nintendo, Nissan, PBS, Sony PlayStation, Time Warner

EDUCATION

Photography & Visual Communication | Art Center College of Design Pasadena | Aug 2001

BFA with honors