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Carol Wilson

Carol Wilson is the Lunder Education Chair at the Smithsonian American Art Museum where she leads museum learning and engagement at SAAM and The Renwick Gallery. She oversees a department responsible for K-12 learning, audience research, visitor-centered interpretive experiences, accessibility programs, and an international distance learning program that fosters critical thinking skills and global competence. Wilson serves on SAAM’s senior leadership team and collaborates across the Smithsonian to develop and implement institutional strategies and learning initiatives. She developed a love for museums growing up in Boston and began her Smithsonian career at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, landing at SAAM in 2004 after a two-year detour in Brussels, Belgium.

Stories from this author

Light blue background with a newspaper extended featuring the words "Wonder & Awe" and a folded newspaper highlighting eclipse news

Finding Our Place in Space Through the Lenses of Art, Culture, History and Science

A new Smithsonian guide features tips for exploring objects in the sky, examines technology that helps us better understand the universe, and explores ways culture and the arts have used the cosmos to stimulate our imaginations

SAAM's Senior Curator Eleanor Jones Harvey and Dean Howarth take a closer look at mastodon bones in the exhibition Alexander von Humboldt and the United States: Art, Nature, and Culture. Charles Willson Peale's painting in the background shows similar bones. Photo by Carol Wilson

Capturing Humboldt in the 21st Century Using an 18th-Century Tool

Discover how one teacher is inspired by the world of Alexander von Humboldt

Volunteer Helen Dickerson (L) and staff member Colleen Brown (R) connected with students for virtual lessons from 2004-2011; Photo by SAAM staff.

Across the Nation and Around the Globe: Learning with American Art

Hear from SAAM’s education team about leading during the pandemic as teachers transitioned to online teaching.

The digital realm is not limited by the dimensions of the museum walls and instead brings learning experiences to visitors of all ages in new and exciting ways. (Smithsonian American Art Museum)

When the Physical World Meets the Digital World, New Realities Emerge

AR/VR technologies give audiences new ways to experience museums that complement a traditional visit, engaging visitors and fueling learning opportunities