e l l e n  m.  o w e n s /

E L L E N  M.  O W E N S 

EDUCATION

2005-2006 UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS; Philadelphia, PA
    • M.A. in Museum Education, GPA: 3.84/4.0
2000-2004 PENN STATE UNIVERSITY; State College, PA
    • B.S. in Art Education with emphasis in Museum and Cultural Institutions
    • B.F.A. with emphasis in Painting and Drawing, GPA: 3.87/4.0; in Majors: 3.88/4.0

WORK EXPERIENCE

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, Philadelphia, PA
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH MANAGER                                                  3/09-present
• Create and design educational activities for gallery, classroom, and online use
• Facilitate and organize public events, order catering and supplies, contact and schedule speakers and presenters
• Develop strategic plan for overall museum development
• Assist in development and fundraising, write and edit grant proposals
• Human Resources: Oversee and develop interpretive staff
• Run and manage volunteer staff
• Design and produce marketing plans and materials
• Lead tours of installations, public mural sites, and artist studio for all ages

American Philosophical Society Museum, Philadelphia, PA
PROGRAM MANAGER OF EDUCATION                                                      10/07-01/09
WEEKEND MUSEUM MANAGER                                                                   9/05-10/06
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TERCENTENARY EDUCATION INTERN                      9/05-5/06
• Contact and collaborate on projects with cultural institutions, businesses, and schools; run outreach education programs
• Facilitate and organize public events, order catering and supplies, contact and schedule speakers and presenters
• Project manage museum’s resident artists through a series of large-scale public artworks
• Create and design educational activities for gallery, classroom, and online use
• Lead tours of collections, historic sites, and artist residency projects for all ages
• Run and manage volunteer staff
• Develop and monitor budgets for education/public programs, count visitor donations and museum profit
• Participate in writing grants, evaluations, marketing, and documentation of programs
• Open/close museum, set security alarms, perform daily object inventory, schedule gallery maintenance
• Human Resources: Oversee guide staff of 15+: train, hire, schedule, administer reviews, manage payroll, etc.

H&M (Hennes & Mauritz), Philadelphia, PA
DEPARTMENT MANAGER                                                                            3/07-10/07
• Supervise multi-level store with 60+ employees, create weekly store schedules
• Tabulate merchandise reductions and inventory to control shrink
• Receive, process, and request merchandise
• Handle cash, calculate sales records, balance daily deposits, audit transactions
• Visual merchandising and organization: dress mannequins, set up sale activities, arrange stockroom, etc.
• Control loss prevention through filing reports, targeting shoplifter hotspots, and monitoring inventory
• Create strategic plans for continual improvement and company growth, monitor sales trends, develop goals
• Human Resources: Hire/dismiss, administer reviews and corrective actions, train staff

Kuhlman Company, Philadelphia, PA & Boston, MA
AREA MANAGEMENT & STAFF TRAINER, STORE MANAGER                       10/06-3/07
STORE MANAGER                                                                                       11/05-3/07
• Train store managers through store visits and phone calls; oversee other area location
• Allocate/request merchandise, advise Manager of Stores and Operations, book travel arrangements for store visits
• Order supplies, manage bank deposits, file paperwork, audit transactions, take inventory, control loss prevention
• Coordinate special events such as fashion shows, photo shoots, cocktail parties, and art shows
• Design visual displays, mannequins, window displays, offsite advertising, store layout
• Marketing/advertisement/development:  build relationships with businesses, newspapers, and merchants
• Make sales goals and budgets, develop weekly/monthly contests, analyze sale statistics
• Human Resources: Hire/dismiss, administer reviews and corrective actions, train staff, create weekly schedule

Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA
CAMP-IN SCIENCE INSTRUCTOR                                                               11/05-5/06
• Lead presentations about science for children and act in mystery plot for science overnight camp
• Set up/take down science labs and displays for campers Interact with 400+ children and their guardians
• Present safety procedures, directions, and museum/camp rules

Self-Employed, State College, PA
PRIVATE ART INSTRUCTOR                                                                         9/02-8/05
• Teach children and adults in studio drawing, painting, mixed media, ceramics, and sculpture
• Train students in art history, color theory, principles of design, and art fundamentals

Creative Oasis Arts Studio, State College, PA
GALLERY ASSISTANT MANAGER                                                                  9/02-8/05
COORDINATOR OF ARTS CAMPS, ART INSTRUCTOR                                   9/02-8/05
• Co-design and implement gallery decoration and layout, screen incoming artists, plan and host artist receptions
• Design promotional materials and marketing
• Care for studio space, machinery, and materials
• Develop lesson plans/curricula for entire summer camp and adult classes
• Teach adults and children painting, drawing, basic ceramics, mixed media, fused glass, and more
• Open/close art gallery and studio, order supplies, answer and direct phone calls
• Track attendance, analyze sales/attendance trends, catalogue and maintain database of members and students
• Human Resources: hire and train art instructors, oversee payroll

Palmer Museum of Art, University Park, PA
MUSEUM ART WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR                                                     6/04-7/04
MUSEUM EDUCATION INTERN                                                                     5/04-8/04
• Create and teach exhibition-based workshops with studio lesson components, lead interactive gallery activities
• Design promotional materials for workshops, develop and design four online pre/post visit guides for teachers
• Generate and lead thematic tours based on teacher requests
• Produce/design promotional materials, plan and facilitate events
• Foster partnerships between university, community, and school groups

Pennsylvania State University, Center for Arts and Crafts, University Park, PA
ARTS INSTRUCTOR                                                                                      7/02-3/03
• Write lesson plans, supply lists, and project proposals; arrange and execute educational field trips
• Teach children and adults in drawing, painting, mixed media, sculpture, color theory, principles of design, and art history

Aeropostale, State College, PA
STORE MANAGER, ASSISTANT MANAGER                                                    7/04-8/05
• Many duties the same as listed under “Kuhlman Company”
• Lead visual merchandising for store, supervise all floor changes
• Order supplies, manage bank deposits, file paperwork, audit transactions, take inventory, control loss prevention
• Handle deposits, bank transactions, scheduling, and payroll, increased profit by approx.15% above previous years’ gross
• Human Resources: recruit, train, review staff and new managers, make employee schedule and store calendar

Kay Bee Toys, State College, PA
SENIOR ASSISTANT MANAGER                                                                    9/01-7/04
PART-TIMES SEASONAL SALES ASSOCIATE                                               10/97-1/00
• Many duties the same as listed under “Kuhlman Company”
• Scheduled staff, planned special events, handled deposits, bank deposits, and payroll
• Set new displays/merchandise; receive and inventory new merchandise; file and maintain records
• Created kids’ craft lessons to highlight products

CONTRACT/FREELANCE
• Article published in ArtsWord, Pennsylvania State University’s visual arts publication                                                                                                           10/08
• Developed logo and business cards for restaurant                                                   8/07
• Designed and painted commissioned watercolors and illustrations                    3/05-8/05
• Personal assistant to nationally-acclaimed installation artist Stacy Levy            7/05-8/05
• Created museum brochure for Matson Museum of Anthropology at Pennsylvania         State University                                                                                            4/04-7/04  

TECHNOLOGY SKILLS
• Fluent in Mac and PC operating systems
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Adobe suites, including Outlook, Powerpoint, Excel, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.
• Built websites in Dreamweaver, some knowledge of iMovie and Director
• Familiarity with some data entry systems such as Microsoft Access and PastPerfect

HONORS & AWARDS
• Panel presenter at the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums conference                 4/2008
• Highest Academic Achievement Award, University of the Arts                                  2006
• Graduate Assistantship Award, University of the Arts                                      2005-2006
• Graduate Fellows Award, University of the Arts                                              2005-2006
• Golden Key National Honor Society Scholar                                                    2001-2004
• Schreyer Honors College Scholar, thesis entitled UnderSkin: Intimate Organics 2002-2004
• Dean’s List 11/12 semesters, Pennsylvania State University                            2000-2004
• Alice Swartz-Mattil Award, Art Education (faculty-nominated award), PSU                 2003