FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa A Batitto, Public Relations Manager, Newark Museum Phone: 973-596-6638, e-mail: lbatitto@newarkmuseum.org Jerry Enis, Consultant, Herbert George Associates Phone: 732-446-5400, e-mail: jerry@herbertgeorge.com Newark Museum Names Sonnet Takahisa as Deputy Director of Education NEWARK – Newark Museum Director and Chief Executive Officer Steven Kern has announced the appointment of Sonnet Takahisa as Deputy Director of Education, succeeding Ted Lind who retired in 2013 “Sonnet brings an impressive record of innovation to the Newark Museum,” Kern said “We welcome her passion for the power of museums to excite and engage that will help take our institution to the next level regionally and nationally.” For many years, Takahisa has been a consultant to museums, cultural institutions and schools, focusing on public engagement, community building and education reform She has served on national and local task forces for museums, arts, pre-K through higher education, government funding agencies and foundations Additionally, she was instrumental in initiating programs at Boston Children’s Museum, Seattle Art Museum, Brooklyn Museum and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum From 1993 – 2003 she was the founding co-director of The NYC Museum School, a groundbreaking public school that used the “Museum Learning” model to engage middle and high school students by providing direct access to the resources of New York City cultural institutions She also served as Senior Program Officer at New Visions for Public Schools, a New York academic management organization, where she worked with a portfolio of new schools co- created by arts and cultural organizations, youth leadership groups and the New York City Department of Education For six years, Takahisa coordinated the statewide Museum School Partnership Professional Learning Network for the New York State Council on the Arts Recently she consulted on exhibit planning and design for museums and early childhood education She has taught intensive graduate seminars for The Johns Hopkins University Museum Studies students and later this year will lead a professional development seminar for students of the State University of New York/ NY State Historical Association Cooperstown Graduate Program in museum studies “I am a firm believer in the Newark Museum as a community anchor, a place that serves the needs of our audiences and provides a dynamic environment for people to make connections with one another and with our collection and exhibits,” Takahisa said “I look forward to expanding and creating new opportunities for engaging our visitors both in the museum and online.” A resident of Brooklyn, NY, Takahisa holds a bachelor’s degree in East Asian Studies from Harvard University, Radcliffe College and a master’s degree in East Asian Studies from the University of Washington, School of International Studies end ABOUT THE NEWARK MUSEUM The Newark Museum is located at 49 Washington Street in the Downtown/Arts District of Newark, New Jersey, just blocks from NJPAC and 10 miles west of New York City The Museum is open all year round: Wednesdays through Sundays, from Noon – 5:00 p.m Suggested Museum admission: Adults, $12.00; Children, Seniors and Students with valid I.D., $7.00 Newark Residents and Members are admitted free The Museum Café is open for lunches Wednesday through Sunday Convenient parking is available for a fee The Newark Museum campus, including its collections, facilities, and other resources, is accessible to accommodate the broadest audience possible, including individuals utilizing wheelchairs, with physical impairments, other disabilities, or special needs For general information, call 973-596-6550 or visit our web site, http://www.NewarkMuseum.org Newark Museum, a not-for-profit museum of art, science and education, receives operating support from the City of Newark, the State of New Jersey, the New Jersey Council on the Arts/Department of State — a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the New Jersey Cultural Trust, the Prudential Foundation, the Geraldine R Dodge Foundation, the Victoria Foundation, the Wallace Foundation and other corporations, foundations and individuals The Newark Museum is just a few steps from the new NJTransit Light Rail Washington Park Station Direct connection with the Light Rail at the Broad Street Station and through Penn Station makes the Museum a convenient ride from all points in the region ... web site, http://www.NewarkMuseum.org Newark Museum, a not-for-profit museum of art, science and education, receives operating support from the City of Newark, the State of New Jersey, the New... the University of Washington, School of International Studies end ABOUT THE NEWARK MUSEUM The Newark Museum is located at 49 Washington Street in the Downtown/Arts District of Newark, New Jersey,... in the museum and online.” A resident of Brooklyn, NY, Takahisa holds a bachelor’s degree in East Asian Studies from Harvard University, Radcliffe College and a master’s degree in East Asian Studies