AMHERST, MASS.- The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art announced two new senior staff who will help lead the Museum: Rebecca Klassen as Chief Curator, and Craig Langlois as Director of Education.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rebecca to The Carle and are delighted that Craig is already making such a positive impact as a member of our leadership team,” said Jennifer Schantz, Executive Director of The Carle. “As we advance our strategic plan, Rebecca’s deep curatorial experience and commitment to research and scholarship will help to continue establishing The Carle as the leading voice in picture book art, while Craig’s innovative approach to education and community engagement is expanding opportunities for visitors of all ages to connect with the art, artists, and stories that inspire us. Together, they will strengthen The Carle’s leadership in exhibitions, scholarship, and educational excellence.”
Rebecca Klassen will join The Carle in September 2026 after 13 years at The New York Historical, where she served as Curator of Material Culture and Decorative Arts. While there, she curated or co-curated exhibitions that explored underrepresented stories, including Betye Saar’s Black Dolls (2026); Beatrice Glow: When Our Rivers Meet (2024); Art for Change: The Artist & Homeless Collaborative (2021); Stonewall 50 at the New-York Historical Society (2019); and the Gallery of Tiffany Lamps (2017), among others. She collaborated with The Carle on shows presented at The New York Historical, including The Art and Whimsy of Mo Willems (2016) and Eloise at the Museum (2017), as well as served as consulting curator for The Carle’s recent exhibition The Art of Grace Lin: Meeting a Friend in an Unexpected Place (2025).
As Curator of Material Culture, Klassen oversaw significant collections of material culture and decorative arts, including textiles, Tiffany Studios objects, political memorabilia, and board games, among other holdings, managing their development and stewardship. A former magazine writer and editor, Klassen spearheaded the revitalization of the museum’s responsive collecting program.
Craig Langlois is an education and museum leader with more than two decades of experience connecting art, learning, and community. He spent more than 15 years at the Berkshire Museum, serving as Director of Education and Public Programs, Chief Experience Officer, and Co-Interim Executive Director. At the Berkshire Museum, he led interdisciplinary education and public programs, supported curatorial and exhibition development, oversaw visitor experience and museum operations, and helped guide institutional planning and building management initiatives.
Prior to joining The Carle, Langlois served Pittsfield Public Schools as District Data and Assessment Coordinator and Assistant Principal of Teaching and Learning, supporting curriculum implementation, educator professional development, instructional coaching, and applied learning initiatives. Langlois began as The Carle’s Director of Education in January 2026.
