Kate Collins

Kate Collins, Ph.D. (she/her) joined the BMA as Director of Learning Communities in 2022, where she connects pre-K through university audiences to the BMA’s collection, exhibitions, and resources; provides strategic oversight for programs that serve pre-K through university audiences; and links teachers and learners from across the region and beyond to the BMA. Additionally, Collins helps to set the institutional priorities for pre-K through 12 and university engagement; oversees the strategic direction for academic engagement across the institution; and oversees the BMA’s gallery educator and docent programs, its group tour program, and its educator resources. As Director of Learning Communities, she is particularly eager to draw in and create meaningful learning opportunities for those who have not historically been strongly engaged at museums.

Prior to arriving at the BMA, Collins was the founding Graduate Director of the MA program in interdisciplinary arts infusion at Towson University for eight years, where she was promoted to Associate Professor in 2022. Collins designed a distinct program and curriculum that supported pre-K through 12 educators within and beyond the arts, as well as artists and other entrepreneurial individuals invested in integrating the arts into their teaching and community engagement. While at Towson, Collins initiated YAAAS (Youth Artists and Allies taking Action in Society) where resettled refugee high school students engaged in an extended collaborative art-making partnership with local educators, benefitting students in their English language acquisition and social adjustment while expanding educator’s global competency and utilization of art integrated learning methods. National leadership roles include having served as President of the Community Arts Caucus for the National Art Education Association (NAEA) and the Eastern Division Director for the Higher Education Division for NAEA. At the state level, Kate currently serves as the Museum Education Division Director for the Maryland Art Education Association. Kate holds a doctorate in arts education from The Ohio State University, an MFA in theatre for youth from Arizona State University, and a BFA in acting from SUNY College at Fredonia.