Lynn Waddell
Claymont,DE
Summary
Director and curator of an academic fine and decorative arts collection with over ten years’ experience dedicated to the access, interpretation and preservation of art and cultural heritage designing experiences for traditional and non-traditional museum and art audiences to become involved with the arts in meaningful ways.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Director
Drexel Founding Collection, Drexel University
01.2017 - Current
- Curate four to five visually appealing exhibitions per year that showcase various artistic styles and periods with a focus on student curated or curriculum-based exhibitions
- Manage exhibition schedule for three galleries.
- Work closely with colleagues on interdisciplinary projects that combine art, history, or science themes into cohesive exhibitions.
- Manage all paper and digital documentation related to accessions, loans, transfers, and other collections-related transactions.
- Oversee the physical collection spaces, conducting condition surveys of storage and display areas, climate monitoring, and initiating projects on HVAC, display case and lighting upgrades
- Manage installation and dismantling of exhibitions, ensuring smooth operations and visitor satisfaction.
- Receive, photograph, catalog, research and prepare new acquisitions for display for the Drexel Founding Collection.
- Secure exhibition funding through donor engagement (secured $330,000 for collection exhibitions and programs; $1 million for University scholarships).
- Manage budgets effectively to ensure optimal use of resources while maintaining financial stability.
- Negotiate contracts with vendors for services including exhibit fabrication, installation materials procurement, contributing to cost-effective project management.
- Train new staff on curatorial best practices and museum ethics, maintaining high standards of professionalism.
- Develop and support special projects and public programs associated with the permanent collection and exhibitions.
- Improve community engagement by training and mentoring interns through Drexel's Autism Institute Project Career Launch and Philly Youth Network's WorkReady.
- Conduct workshops and tours on the Drexel Founding Collection; co-teach courses in Art History and Museum Leadership
- Write and review articles, collection website, institutional reports, policies, and social media materials.
Assistant Director
The Drexel Collection, Drexel University
12.2014 - 12.2016
- Handle all collection management responsibilities including acquisition, deaccession, documentation, inventories, cataloging, climate monitoring and database management for a permanent collection of 8,000+ works of fine and decorative arts
- Curate, plan, and design three to four exhibitions annually in two galleries
- Train and supervise all new employees and volunteers, conduct workshops and tours on The Drexel Collection
- Launch and maintain Collection website
- Develop programs associated with the permanent collection and exhibitions
- Work with Drexel Museum Leadership Graduate Program
- Cultivate donors through tours and programming organized by Institutional Advancement
- Develop collection policy and core documentation
Assistant Curator
The Drexel Collection, Drexel University
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Involved with mounting ten exhibitions
- Conduct workshops and tours
- Standardize collection database
- Develop collection emergency preparedness plan
- Handle all registration and collection management responsibilities.
Cataloging Assistant
Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library
01.2008 - 10.2012
- Lunger Cataloging Project: Cataloged 6,593 unique Chinese export porcelain and silver records.
- IMLS Printed Textile Cataloging Project: Cataloged 171 unique printed textile records, updated 492.
- Streamlined cataloging processes for increased efficiency and consistency in record management.
- Engaged with patrons during workshop events or presentations aimed at promoting the value of collection resources and services.
Collections Management Department Intern
Smithsonian Institute National Portrait Gallery
01.2007
- Collect proper documentation for object files, pending acquisition condition reports.
IMLS Printed Textile Cataloger
Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library
01.2011 - 01.2012
- Cataloged 171 unique records, updated 492.
Andrew W. Mellon Conservation Intern
The Barnes Foundation
01.2008 - 08.2008
- Collection maintenance including Merion Campus and Ker-Feal estate
- Conservation treatment of 19th century dealer frame
- Draft emergency preparedness plan for Ker-Feal estate.
Education
Master of Arts - Art & Museum Studies
Georgetown University
Washington, DC08.2008
Bachelor of Arts - Art Conservation Pre-Graduate Study
University of Delaware
Newark, DE05.2007
Skills
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Relationship Building
- Multitasking and Organization
- Administrative Support: documentation and data entry
- Project Management
- Creativity and Innovation
- Problem-Solving
- Public Speaking
- Excellent Communication
- Microsoft Office
- Collection Management Systems: CatalogIt, Museum Plus, eMuseum, TMS
- Digital Photography
- Art handling
- Cross-functional Team Coordination
Awards & Recognition
2024 Drexel Autism Institute Project Career Launch Internship Site of the Year Award
Department/University Service
- Atwater-Kent Evaluation Committee, 2023
- Anti-Racism Task Force Subcommittee on Welcoming Spaces, 2020
- Collections and Exhibitions Advisory Committee, 2012–present
- NEH Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections reviewer, 2019
- Drexel’s Diverse History Working Group, 2018
- Exterior Public Art Committee, 2015
- Pearlstein Gallery Advisory Group, 2015
- Drexel 125th Anniversary, Arts Sub-Committee, 2015-2016
Conference Activity
- Larnerd, J. PhD, Ngo, Douglas & Waddell, L. “The Museum of Where We Are” Association of Academic Museums and Galleries Annual Conference, June 24 – 26, 2024
- Roeber, C. and Clouser, L. “The Sweeter Side to Winterthur: Dessert Ceramics in the Collection” Winterthur Ceramics Conference, April 26–27, Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library
- Roeber, C. and Clouser, L., “Dining with Mr. Washington: Placing the Society of Cincinnati Porcelain in Context” Winterthur Ceramics Conference, April 7–8, Winterthur’s Collector’s Circle, November 2011, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
Affiliations
- American Alliance of Museums
- Association of Academic Museums and Galleries
Timeline
Director
Drexel Founding Collection, Drexel University
01.2017 - Current
Assistant Director
The Drexel Collection, Drexel University
12.2014 - 12.2016
Assistant Curator
The Drexel Collection, Drexel University
01.2012 - 01.2014
IMLS Printed Textile Cataloger
Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library
01.2011 - 01.2012
Cataloging Assistant
Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library
01.2008 - 10.2012
Andrew W. Mellon Conservation Intern
The Barnes Foundation
01.2008 - 08.2008
Collections Management Department Intern
Smithsonian Institute National Portrait Gallery
01.2007
Master of Arts - Art & Museum Studies
Georgetown University
Bachelor of Arts - Art Conservation Pre-Graduate Study
University of Delaware
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