female silhouette of head and shoulders

Kristin Gallas

Project Manager-Education Development, Tsongas Industrial History Center

Pronouns
she/her
Department
School of Education, Tsongas Industrial History Center
Phone
978-970-5084
Fax
978-970-5085
Office
Boott Mills, 115 John St., Lowell, MA 01852

Expertise

Experiential learning; curriculum development; teacher professional development, interpretive planning

Research Interests

Museum Education, Teaching/interpreting the histories and legacies of slavery in the United States

Education

M.A.T, Museum Education, George Washington University,
B.S. Secondary History/Theatre Education, University of Vermont

Biosketch

Kristin has worked in museums for over 25 years and is currently the Project Manager for Education Development at the Tsongas Industrial History Center, an education partnership of UMass Lowell’s School of Education and Lowell National Historical Park. The TIHC, a field-study destination for educators and students, offers hands-on, place-based experiences that develop understanding of the significance of industrialization and its relevance today, using Lowell as a case study. As an independent museum professional, Kristin facilitates workshops for museums and historic sites on developing comprehensive and conscientious interpretation of slavery. She is the author of "Interpreting Slavery with Children and Teens at Museums and Historic Sites" (Rowman and Littlefield, October 2021) and co-editor, with James DeWolf Perry, of "Interpreting Slavery at Museums and Historic Sites" (Rowman & Littlefield, January 2015). She developed the Tracing Center on Histories and Legacies of Slavery’s public history efforts and oversaw the design of workshops for teachers and education/museum professionals. She previously worked at the Montana Historical Society, the USS Constitution Museum, the National Trust for Historic Preservation – Decatur House, and Shelburne Museum.

Selected Awards and Honors

2022: Employee of the Quarter, Lowell National Historical Park
2019: Pillars of Excellence Award for “Leveraging Our Legacy and Our Place,” UMass Lowell
2017: Achieving Relevance in Education Award, National Park Service Northeast Region

Selected Publications

  • Interpreting Slavery with Children and Teens, (Rowman and Littlefield, October 2021).
  • Interpreting Slavery at Historic Sites and Museums, with J.D. Perry, (Rowman and Littlefield, December 2014).
  • History News Technical Leaflet, w/J.D. Perry, (American Association for State and Local History, Spring 2014).
  • “Developing Comprehensive and Conscientious Interpretation of Slavery at Historic Sites and Museums,” Interpreting African American History and Culture (New York: Rowman and Littlefield, December 2014).
  • Advisor/reviewer for “Montana: Stories of the Land” textbook, Montana Historical Society, 2005-2007.
  • “A Foil for the Good Guys,” Speaking Ill of the Dead: Jerks in Montana History, Vol. 2 (Connecticut: Globe Pequot, December 2004).

Selected Presentations

  • New England Museums Association Conference: 2018, 2020
  • “Transforming Public History: Charleston to the Atlantic World Conference,” College of Charleston: 2017
  • National Council for Public History Conference: 2015, 2016
  • American Association for State and Local History Annual Conference: 2010-2015
  • Curators and Historians on International Slavery Conference, Brown University: 2014
  • Smithsonian Affiliations National Conference: 2015
  • National Council for Social Studies Conference: 2014