Caroline Fiertz

About Caroline Fiertz

Enthusiastic, flexible, and passionate program manager and educator focused on individualized learning, building empathetic workplaces, and organizational development. Skilled in facilitation, workplace culture development, audience-focused programming, formal and informal evaluation techniques, object-based interpretation, instructional design, and inclusive, reflective leadership practices. Fierce advocate for action-focused social justice, equitable access, and thoughtful inclusion in both learning and professional spaces, especially focusing on engagement with and working alongside historically and currently harmed and excluded communities. Professional interests include Restorative History and transformative museum practice, conservation education, second chance programming for folks who were formerly incarcerated, backwards-design and strategic planning, and strengths-based leadership.

Experience

1. Interns and Fellows Program Manager at the National Museum of American History

   Smithsonian Institution

   Sep 2019 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Manages internship and fellowship programs, including strategic planning, recruitment, onboarding, resource development, administrative support, professional coaching and advocacy, evaluation, and founding the NMAH Intern Alumni Network serving 450+ alums since 2019 Directs the museum’s internal professional development program, including (1) developing an internship curriculum and workshop series on resumes, networking, conflict resolution, and career planning and (2) creating training for staff about effective mentorship, inclusive team management, norm-setting, compassionate and empathetic feedback strategies, trauma-informed internship practice, conflict resolution, and successful workplace collaboration and community-building Transformed the NMAH Internship Program with equitable access at its core, including application review recommendations and supervisor training, pioneering strategies for museum-wide protocol and support for needs-based stipends, and leading public, transparent recruitment, including partnership strategies to ensure that the program represents the nation Utilizes a holistic, systems-thinking approach to create, implement, and refine strategic planning and standard operating procedures to address root causes of challenges and achieve short- and long-term goals for staff and visitors Founding member of the Center for Restorative History and co-founder of the GPEP Alumni Internship Program Founder and lead facilitator of Smithsonian’s Coordinators\' Corner, a monthly virtual meeting connecting 30+ interns and fellows coordinators to strategize, share resources, and advocate for staff, interns, and fellows Education and Learning Specialist for year-long detail with the Office of Diversity (2024), developing a framework and strategic plan for staff learning as well as accompanying curriculum and guidance to increase knowledge, skills, and practice regarding empathy, civility, and fostering a culture of belonging in the workplace

Education

• St. Mary's College of Maryland

  Master of Arts (M.A.), Secondary Education and Teaching

  2013 — 2014

• St. Mary's College of Maryland

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), English Language and Literature, General

  2009 — 2013