Experience
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Education & Learning Manager | MSU Museum CoLab Studio*
September 2022 - Present
*In Fall 2022, following a July 2021 merge with the MSU Museum, MSU’s Science Gallery became the CoLab Studio, a division for innovation and experimentation within the MSU Museum.
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Mentors and leads colleagues in learning design practices throughout exhibition curation and design that lead to stronger learning experiences and outcomes for museum participants/attendees.
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Facilitates goals, objective and outcome conversations for programmatic offerings and exhibitions
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Collaborates with marketing and communications manager to create multimedia and interactive content that supports and expands on the content and themes of exhibitions and programs
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Manages the CoLaborator program including student recruitment, training development, and ongoing professional development
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Leads applied research and evaluation for the informal learning experience, including participant experience as well as internal reflections. Sets parameters for research or evaluation design, selects the relevant questions, and prescribes appropriate research methodology.
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Leads and facilitates weekly team meetings to ensure projects remain on track
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Writes, edits, and revises copy for exhibition labels, reports, project charters, and case studies
Education & Learning Manager | Science Gallery Detroit/MSU's Science Gallery
September 2018 – September 2022
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Part of the founding team that launched the first Science Gallery in the Americas, expanding the award-winning model for public engagement with science and the arts
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Led the design and development of Science Gallery Detroit’s educational programs and strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities
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Managed a team of 15 mediators who drive visitor engagement in the gallery. Responsible for recruitment and team training, and developing a sustainable program for professional/personal development
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Designed and developed training materials to prepare mediators for the exhibition
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Ensured that the exhibition development process included youth voice and perspective
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Collaborated with team members on designing and building organizational culture and processes
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Participated in international working groups around digital engagement, research, and youth involvement
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Learning Experience Designer | MSU Hub for Innovation in Learning & Technology
September 2016 – July 2021
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Collaborated with faculty to enhance face-to-face, blended, and online courses at Michigan State University
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Designed and facilitated workshops with faculty around future visioning and potential changes to their current practices and curriculum
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Developed design processes for faculty and student partners that facilitates transformation and betters the student experience
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Developed a set of student personas, advancing MSU Hub’s and MSU IT Services understanding of student stories
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Worked with the Director of Engagement to develop and implement engagement strategies
Communications Manager | Science Gallery Detroit
March 2017 – January 2019
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Designed, developed, and implemented marketing strategies for open calls, exhibitions, and events
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Provided creative direction to freelance graphic designers and project managed communications workstreams
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Developed and produced The Intersection event series in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
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Supervised and provided strategic guidance for Science Gallery’s social media coordinator
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Established and maintained relationships with central university communications and external PR firms
Learning Experience Intern | MSU Hub for Innovation in Learning & Technology
August 2015 – August 2016
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Designed a framework for the Hub’s work culture and student internships
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Planned and facilitated workshops to improve programs and courses around Michigan State University’s campus
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Analyzed and interpreted data to inform better curricular practices
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Reviewed courses using the Quality Matters framework
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Managed social media channels and designed ways to improve digital engagement
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Raised awareness of the Hub’s purpose and mission through communication channels
Managing Editor | Red Cedar Review
August 2015 – May 2016
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Managed and mentored a staff of 14
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Established and led a website redesign team and built the literary journal’s digital identity
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Restructured the publication’s organization and created a sustainable leadership and management structure
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Led a team of typesetters in creating two volumes using Adobe InDesign
User Experience Intern and Freelance Writer | Foote, Evans, Breslin (FEB) Digital
June 2015 – December 2015
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Wrote web copy for FEB’s website
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Drafted a speech for the company director for the 2015 User Centered Design conference
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Managed social media accounts and weekly newsletter
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Assisted with user interviews and user testing for a client’s website redesign
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Participated in playback meetings, feature reviews, and client meetings
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Wrote blog posts and a conference speech proposal
Freelance Copyeditor | Michigan State University School of Journalism
January 2014 – March 2015
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Copy edited three 16-page chapters of an academic journal
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Checked and revised references using Harvard style
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Edited the 30-chapter book One Community, One Week, Many Faiths with two other editors
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Established and met deadlines for three rounds of editing in a six-month time frame
Writing Center Consultant and Studio Leader | Michigan State University Writing Center
August 2013 – December 2015
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Met one-on-one with clients during various stages in the writing process to improve their writing skills
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Assessed client needs, established goals for hour-long tutoring sessions, and supported student learning
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Mentored students in MSU’s Lyman-Briggs college in scientific writing
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Planned and led eight weekly workshop sections
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Evaluated the success of the program by reading and scoring portfolios
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Education
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Master of Arts, Rhetoric and Writing
Michigan State University, Spring 2025
Graduate certificate in Online Teaching and Learning
Committee Chair: Bill Hart-Davidson (Honorary), Danielle DeVoss
Committee Members: Casey McArdle, Leigh Graves Wolf
Bachelor of Arts, Professional Writing and English
Michigan State University, May 2016
Concentration in user experience design, education, and digital & technical writing
Honors College
Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
Presentations
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Akwali, M. Blair, D., Carter, B., Stevens, A, and White, C. (2023, Nov. 1) You Can’t Miss First Fridays: [Conference Presentation]. Association of Academic Museums.. Online.
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Blair, D., Bossert, C., and White, C. (2023, Nov. 1) Critical Conversations: How Applying Interactive Technologies Can Facilitate and Expand Visitor Engagement Around Climate Change [Conference Presentation]. Smithsonian Affiliates Conference. Online.
Blair, D., Bossert, C., and White, C. (2023, July 19) Applying Interactive Technologies in New Ways to Support Engagement From Museum to Classroom [Conference Presentation]. Smithsonian National Education Summit. Online.
Akmon, D., Stevens, J. Sullivan, M. and White, C. (2023, May 19-22) 1.5º Celsius: The Hottest Exhibition in Town [Conference Presentation]. American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting. Denver, Colorado.
White, C. (2021, June) Brave New Robotic World: New Frontiers in Remote Gallery Engagement [Conference presentation]. Ecsite 2021. Online.
White, C. & Harris, A. (2021, April) Future Present: Mediation in a Time of Urgency [Conference Presentation]. MuseWeb 2021. Online.
White, C. & Yaklin, B. (2018, April). Role and Identity of an Instructional Designer [Conference Presentation]. Online Learning Consortium Innovate 2018. Nashville, Tennessee.
White, C. & Yaklin, B. (2017, April). Student Personas: Representing Student Voice in Design and Decision Making [Conference Presentation]. Online Learning Consortium Innovate 2017. New Orleans, Louisiana.
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