Brook Gesser
Brooklyn,NY
Summary
Experienced professional with a passion for museums and civic engagement. Master's degree in museum education coupled with a history of public service in government. Strong communicator and collaborator committed to advancing the mission of museums through education and public engagement.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Museum Educator
The Tenement Museum
11.2022 - Current
- Lead engaging and informative tours for diverse audiences, including school groups, public groups, and private groups.
- Develop and deliver educational programming and activities for K-12 school groups.
- Utilize storytelling and historical documents to bring immigrant experience to life, enhancing visitors' understanding of American history.
- Facilitate interactive discussions to encourage active participation among tour participants.
- Adapt curriculum content to accommodate diverse learning styles and accessibility needs.
- Collaborate with museum staff to develop new tours and educational experiences.
- Serve on Educator Advisory Committee.
- Chosen as part of first cohort to develop and learn museum's newest tour, about a Black family living in a tenement in 1860s New York City.
Senior Advisor
Office Of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
09.2010 - 05.2022
- Conducted federal grants workshops for arts and culture nonprofit organizations throughout NYS with representatives from NEA, NEH, and IMLS to connect local organizations to federal funding opportunities.
- Created visiting artist program in collaboration with local nonprofits so K-12 students could exhibit their artwork in senator’s NYC office.
- Drafted remarks, press releases, and other communications.
- Designed and directed senator’s school group visitation program, serving K-12 students.
- Represented senator in community meetings and events.
- Directed 80-person statewide working group of high-level stakeholders that met bi-annually to generate recommendations for senator’s Aging policy.
- Analyzed local problems to successfully develop a federal response, propose policy recommendations, and formulate legislative solutions.
- Planned content and messaging for large-scale public events, and coordinated logistics for press conferences, forums, and town hall meetings involving several hundred constituent participants.
- Convened meetings with key stakeholders and advocates to communicate senator’s views on legislation and other initiatives with high community impact.
- Mentored, trained, and managed groups of college interns, fostering professional development.
Senior Editor
Vault Inc.
01.2000 - 05.2004
- Edited and authored books on legal careers for media company providing career information.
- Wrote and edited several editions of popular “Vault Guide to the Top 100 Law Firms”
- Surveyed thousands of law firm associates on law firm quality of life issues; increased annual survey participation by more than 50 percent.
- Wrote feature articles for Vault.com website and created monthly online newsletter circulated to more than 1,000 subscribers.
- Responsible for managing, coaching, and developing staff of several freelance and staff writers.
- Fielded inquiries from media and served as expert on matters relating to associate work-life balance issues and law firm diversity.
Education
Master of Science in Education - Museum Education
Bank Street Graduate School of Education
New York, NY05.2024
Juris Doctor -
Fordham University School of Law
New York, NY05.1999
Bachelor of Arts - English And Art History
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY05.1995
Skills
- Inquiry-based teaching
- Visitor engagement
- Lesson planning
- Art history knowledge
- Exhibit Interpretation
- Object-based learning
- Interpersonal abilities
- Relationship building
- Public speaking
- Presentation skills
Memberships
- New York City Museum Educators Roundtable
- New York Arts in Education Roundtable
- American Alliance of Museums
Timeline
Museum Educator
The Tenement Museum
11.2022 - Current
Senior Advisor
Office Of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
09.2010 - 05.2022
Senior Editor
Vault Inc.
01.2000 - 05.2004
Master of Science in Education - Museum Education
Bank Street Graduate School of Education
Juris Doctor -
Fordham University School of Law
Bachelor of Arts - English And Art History
Vassar College
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