SARASOTA, FLA.- The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art announces the appointment of Laura Steefel-Moore to Head of Educational Programs. In this role, Steefel-Moore will oversee the diverse educational offerings at The Ringling which include docent training, museum tours, family programs, student and teacher programs, adult programs, and outreach and accessibility initiatives.

Steefel-Moore joined The Ringling in 2015 as the Museum Education and Training Specialist. In this role she managed the museum’s active docent corps of over 120 volunteers and significantly revised the docent training program to increase visitor engagement and reflect innovative gallery teaching theory. She created ongoing series of staff and volunteer trainings to increase institutional awareness of museum content and initiatives. She has also been instrumental in the museum’s inclusion and accessibility efforts, working to remove barriers to participation throughout the institution.

In her new role, Steefel-Moore looks forward to collaborating with The Ringling’s dynamic curators and educators in developing programs to engage museum visitors. She is excited to support ongoing efforts to reach new communities and build new audiences.

“The Ringling continues to position itself as a leading center of curiosity, cultural exchange and civic discourse,” Steefel-Moore commented. “I’m honored to have the opportunity to be at the forefront of our work in these important arenas.”

Before coming to The Ringling, Steefel-Moore was the director of volunteers and visitor services at the Maltz Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. She held a year-long Community and Access Programs fellowship at The Museum of Modern Art in New York, New York, from 2011-2012 and has served as a gallery educator at several other major museums. She received her Bachelor of Arts in art history from Washington University in St. Louis and her Master of Arts in art history and museum studies from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

“We are thrilled to welcome Laura to this new position,” said The Ringling’s Executive Director Steven High. “She has proven herself to be an invaluable member of our education department, and we look forward to seeing how her enthusiasm and deep understanding of arts education will positively impact our programs under her leadership.”