Jean DeStefano is the Assistant Director of Education and oversees public programs at the Museum. She works with the staff who create and plan family days, lectures, virtual programs, astronomy outreach, and young adult strategies, including efforts like the Museum’s podcast, AirSpace.
She joined the Museum in 2001 in what was then the Curatorial and Collections Department where she managed lectures, oversaw the Museum’s Mutual Concerns of Air and Space Museums Conference, and prototyped a number of new programs including Air & Scare and collaborative endeavors with SI units, DMV community groups, and local businesses to draw new and diverse audiences. In 2014, lectures and Jean moved to the Education Department where she continued her focus on growing public programs. She led the Museum’s 40th birthday celebration and other unique engagement programs like the observing Star Wars and Star Trek milestone anniversaries. In addition to her current leadership work with the public program team, Jean also supports the Education Director in some key operations in the department, including budgeting and procurement.
Prior to joining the Museum, Jean worked as a planner and trainer at the National Association for Public Interest Law and as a planner and community organizer for Friends of the Earth.