We are a collective of questioners committed to partnering with those who seek transformation

We have dedicated more than 30 years to supporting museums in strategy, research, and evaluation.


 

Kera Collective has completed more than 800 research and evaluation and projects, and we are sought out as thought partners and strategic consultants because of our deep knowledge of how people make meaning from informal learning experiences.

We are leaders in the field who are known and respected for asking probing questions to seek clarity, upholding high-quality standards, and collaborating with our clients to improve practice.

Psst… Curious about what’s in a name?

 
 

 Meet our dynamic team

Stephanie Downey (she/her)
Owner + Director

Stephanie is motivated by her lifelong passions for material culture, education, and equity and informed by her training as an applied cultural anthropologist.

Learn more about Stephanie →

Amanda Krantz (she/her)
Director of Research + Practice

Amanda is passionate about informal learning experiences and is particularly interested in helping museums welcome and support all experience seekers and learners. 

Learn more about Amanda →

Cathy Sigmond (she/her)
Head of Strategy

Cathy is driven by her constant fascination and delight at how design can help people make discoveries about the familiar and the unfamiliar.  

Learn more about Cathy →

 

Dr. Ebony Bailey (she/her)
Researcher

Ebony’s background in art and Ph.D. in African American literature, folklore, and narrative inform her commitment to highlighting unacknowledged histories.

Learn more about Ebony

Emily Skidmore (she/her)
Consultant Researcher

Emily’s fascination with studying learning and behavior comes from a background studying non-human primates and museum education. 

Learn more about Emily →

Hannah Heller, Ed.D. (she/her)
Researcher

Hannah’s background in education and dissertation research on how Whiteness impacts gallery teaching practices have informed her sensitivity to ideas around power and control in museums.

Learn more about Hannah 

 

Katie Chandler (she/her)
Senior Researcher

Katie’s love of anthropology, history, and applied research gives her a unique balance of curiosity about human thought and behavior and practicality to translate insights into meaningful actions.  

Learn more about Katie 

Lina Bhatti (she/her)
Research and Communications Coordinator

Lina's appreciation for the ways humans interact with material culture and storytelling informs her desire to work with museums in an inclusive context, grounded in decolonial anthropology and history.

Learn more about Lina 

Rachel Jackson (she/her)
Assistant Researcher

Rachel's passion for digital culture research drives her to collaborate with museums and help create memorable visitor experiences.

Learn more about Rachel 

 

Interested in joining our team? Learn more about current opportunities

Our stories: How museums shaped our lives and careers

  • Stephanie

    Stephanie’s origins begin in rural Kentucky, where visiting cultural and historic sites and wandering through antique shops and old houses sparked a love for objects and the stories they hold.

  • Amanda

    Amanda’s interest in museums sparked in middle school when she began traveling with her aunt and expanding her knowledge of the world outside her home in Maryland.

  • Cathy

    Driven by curiosity, Cathy’s interests have guided her to a diverse range of experiences and considerations—many of which led her to where she is today.

  • Ebony

    Ebony lived in several states throughout her childhood, with museums in each place serving as places to understand her many new homes and appreciate the stories of those who had come before her.

  • Emily

    Emily’s love for animals combined with her passion for research and observation studies led her to Kera Collective, where she is able to support communities in making a meaningful difference.

  • Hannah

    Hannah’s story starts with an amazing art history class she took in high school (hi Ms. Gajendragadkar!) that sparked a curiosity in the stories we tell with art that she carries with her to this day.

  • Katie

    Katie’s origin story begins at a young age on several road trips across the country with her family and grandparents where she found interest in learning about people, culture, and history.

  • Lina

    Lina’s love and appreciation of her Pakistani roots and academic studies sparked her passion for accessibility, equity, and knowledge acquisition in everyday life, which ultimately led her to the important work she does today.

  • Rachel

    Rachel’s origin story begins with her many childhood field trips to Washington, DC museums, which sparked her interest in art history and desire to work with cultural institutions.

The Wild Center has worked consistently with Kera Collective on multiple projects over the last 10 years. I am always impressed with the thoughtfulness, care and attention the team brings to deeply understanding our work and impact. Our work together has been rooted in conversation, collaboration, trust and reflection and has helped to shape the strategic direction of our programming and partnerships.

-Jen Kretser, Director of Climate Initiatives, The Wild Center