Svadlenak Museum Consulting

Training & Experience

Jean earned a BS in Textiles & Clothing from the University of Delaware and a MA in History Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program, SUNY-Oneonta. Recruited to work for the Kansas City Museum, she served for eleven years in positions of increasing responsibility and leadership–as Curator of Clothing & Textiles, Chief Curator, Associate Executive Director, and President.  During her tenure at the Museum, she was selected to participate in the Museum Leadership Institute, sponsored by the J. Paul Getty Foundation.  While serving as President, the Kansas City Museum was accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

Prior to moving to Kansas City, Jean worked for the New York State Historical Association in Cooperstown, New York and the Hagley Museum in Wilmington, Delaware.

In 1989, Jean established Svadlenak Museum Consulting. She has helped dozens of organizations–from small, all-volunteer museums to federal agencies and corporations—develop and implement plans to preserve and share their history according to the standards and best practices of the museum profession.

Service to the Field

Jean served as Adjunct Faculty to the University of Kansas and the University of Missouri-Kansas City teaching graduate level museum studies courses from 1991-2001.  From 1991-2012, she coordinated the Heritage League of Greater Kansas City’s continuing education program. Offerings included one-day workshops and a 30-day program focused on improving collections care (funded by local foundations and the National Endowment for the Humanities). The 30-day program was offered for three years in conjunction with the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a graduate credit option.

Active in the museum profession at the local and national levels, she served two terms as President of the Missouri Museums Association, four years on the Council for the Association of Midwest Museums and as an officer for the Committee on Museum Professional Training, a Standing Professional Committee of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM).  She has served as a grant reviewer for the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute for Museum and Library Services, and as a visiting committee member for the AAM accreditation program.