DENISE ROSARIO ADUSEI, Executive Director

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Denise Rosario Adusei joined the Bronx Children's Museum in March 2023. Prior to joining the Museum, she founded a STEAM-focused preschool program in Harlem. Over the past 12 years, Denise has successfully launched the school, graduated 1,500 children into NYC elementary schools, and helped families secure over $8 million in tuition relief for private competitive schools. Denise is also a children's book author and the co-founder of two artist-development organizations, Latinx Pitch and Black Creators HQ. These organizations are focused on increasing diverse representation in children's books. She has played a key role in the strategic growth of both organizations and helped hundreds of Black and Latinx authors and illustrators navigate the children's book industry and secure publishing opportunities. Prior to founding Peartree Preschool, Denise worked in nonprofit management consulting for Community Resource Exchange and the Commissioner's Office for the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

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TAKISHA DOZIER, External Relations Manager

 

Takisha has been part of the Museum family since 2010, when she came across the Museum while searching online for things to do in the Bronx with her then infant daughter. Since then she has served the Museum in various capacities such as Volunteer Community Outreach Coordinator, Museum Advisory Board member and part time consultant before joining the Board of Directors in 2015 and now as an official team member. 

 

A Bronx native and proud mother of two who is passionate about parents being their children's first teachers and advocates, Takisha believes in the importance of education, exposure to opportunity and inspiring curiosity about the world to foster a lifelong journey of learning for both parent and child. 

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JENELL HORTON, Director of Finance and Operations

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Jenell Horton joined BxCM in June 2023.  She is a shining star in finance and operations, with a wealth of experience and a passion for the nonprofit sector. As the former COO at the ARC substance treatment center, she led operations for a 216-bed facility, ensuring seamless services. As CFO, Jenell managed a $9 million budget, driving the organization's success. She's also an adjunct professor, auditor, and Fulbright Scholar. Outside work, Jenell's compassion shines as a voluntary chaplain with the Bronx Health Care System. With her expertise as the new Director of Finance and Operations, her dedication will uplift the organization, achieving remarkable success. Her journey and commitment inspire all.

 

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MICHAEL HUXFORD, Senior Manager, Operations and Facilities

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Michael Huxford joined the Bronx Children’s Museum in 2021. In his position as Operations Manager he oversees the day to day operations of the museum’s new location in the Powerhouse at Mill Pond Park, specifically facilities, maintenance, safety, and security. Michael comes from a theatrical and events background, with 15 years of professional experience in those fields, most recently as the Stage Supervisor for the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, MA. A California native, he holds a BA in Theatre Arts, with an emphasis in Technical Direction, from California State University, Fullerton. Upon transitioning to New York City, he made the decision to apply his previous experience working in cultural institutions to the field of museum management.  

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JASON PADILLA, Office Manager and Finance Assistant

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BRIGID BARKLEY, Director of Human Resources

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NATALIE WOOD, Deputy Director of Arts and Exhibits

 

Natalie Wood joined the Bronx Children’s Museum in July of 2010. She began her work in the Bronx community in 2004 at the Bronx Veterans Hospital in the Maxillofacial Prosthetic Training Program. Since then she has exhibited at the Bronx Museum of the Arts and has worked as a teaching artist in the South Bronx with Creative Classrooms.  

Ms. Wood manages the Waters On the Go! Exhibit in the Museum on the Go bus, the What is Art? Program, the Little Friends of the Museum Program, the Dream Big Summer Program, and the Dream Big After School Program. She has a Master of Fine Arts degree from Herbert H. Lehman College in the Bronx.

 

The New York Times - July 24, 2015:

How Natalie Collette Wood, Program Director of the Bronx Children’s Museum, Spends Her Sundays

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JESSICA MONTALVO-JACKSON, Director of School Programs and Education

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Jessica Montalvo-Jackson joined the Bronx Children’s Museum in June 2023. She is an accomplished Bronx-born educator and school leader with over 15 years of experience in early childhood education. Before joining the museum, she served as a preschool director and developed STEAM programs tailored to children between the ages of two to six. Her studies in educational leadership complement Jessica’s dedication to equity in education. The primary focus of her career is to ensure children of disenfranchised populations have access to high-quality educational opportunities and experiences that they may not readily have due to systemic injustices. Her expertise lies in designing and implementing STEAM-focused curricula that promote academic achievement and cultural relevance. Her strong leadership skills and commitment to fostering inclusive learning environments make her an invaluable asset to the Bronx Children's Museum.

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CHRISTOPHER GOMEZ, Arts Program Manager

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Christopher Gomez joined the Bronx Children's Museum in October of 2019. He is a New York-based cartoonist and illustrator who has been working as a teaching artist since he graduated from The School of Visual Arts in 2014. He creates comics and children's books with the purpose of educating and entertaining youths from every walk of life, and believes that art is a fantastic vehicle for delivering information and culture to children of all ages.

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NICOLE WALLACE, Director of Education and Public Engagement

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Nicole obtained her B.A. in Classical Civilizations from UC Berkeley in 2006 and immediately began working in museums, first at an archaeological site in Israel and then at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. She has lived in the Bronx since 2011, when she began working for the Bronx Children's Museum. She has an M.S. in Education from the Leadership in Museum Education program at Bank Street College of Education. Nicole is a National Geographic Certified Educator and an American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Education Mentor.

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CONCETTA GLEASON, Director of Public Engagement and Outreach

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Concetta Gleason, a proud Bronx native, joined BxCM in June 2023. She is a highly accomplished children's book editor with a decade of experience. Her impressive career includes roles as the Senior Manager & Editor for Scholastic Book Clubs (Club Leo en Español) and Senior Editor at Lil' Libros. As the co-founder of Start Lighthouse, a nonprofit organization, Concetta spearheaded programming and curation efforts. Most recently, she embarked on an inspiring journey by launching Wilde, Flowers & Books, a children's bookstore in The Bronx. This remarkable endeavor focuses on curated books and meaningful partnerships that celebrate the diversity, languages, and spirit of the borough. With an unwavering commitment to addressing equity gaps in the Bronxs, Concetta's programming aims to unlock the power of literacy for all. She holds a B.A. with a double major in English & History from Fordham University and an M.S. in Fine Arts in Writing Poetry from Sarah Lawrence College.  

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ADAM ALGARIN, Program Coordinator

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ADRIANA BURKINS, STEAM Program Manager

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MONA DREHER, Program Coordinator

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NAA PAPPOE, Program Coordinator

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KENDALL CLARK, Visitor Services & Public Engagement Manager

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CAROLYN SCHWARTZ, Development Director

 

Carolyn brings three decades of experience as a marketing, branding, and development professional to the team. Her career has spanned both book publishing and the nonprofit sector. As Vice President, Director of Advertising and Promotion for the Random House Publishing Group, she developed and implemented plans for fourteen imprints, and spearheaded brand marketing strategies for numerous bestselling authors, including Dean Koontz, Lee Child, George R.R. Martin, Danielle Steel, and Dr. Christiane Northrup. Afterwards she led marketing and development for World Book Night US, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to promoting reading by engaging 25,000 volunteers to distribute 500,000 free, specially-selected books to teens and adults nationwide. She worked closely with their Board of Trustees, made up of industry leaders from publishing houses, the American Bookseller Association, and the American Library Association. Ms. Schwartz has been associated with the Bronx Children’s Museum since 2015. She gives back by assisting numerous nonprofits through her work with the Taproot Foundation. She received her BA from The Johns Hopkins University.

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PRISCILLA STEWART, Development Assistant

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JOHN BOUDREAU, Director of Marketing and Communications

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John Boudreau has more than 26 years experience in the creative services, graphic design, web development, marketing and publishing industries. Designing and producing a wide variety of materials from promotional brochures, magazines, media kits and catalogues to children’s books, event graphics, exhibit design and websites, John began his career as a Magazine Designer in trade publishing at Keller International Publishing followed by Brand Manager for 17 titles at VNU eMedia. In 2003, John opened Boudreau Design as a freelancer graphic designer and creative communications consultant with clients in the educational, legal, financial, construction, real estate and art industries. Clients included Teachers College, Columbia University, Standard & Poors, Hoff-Barthelson Music School, Westchester Golf Association, Yula Corporation and Agent of Change Events. John began working with Bronx Children’s Museum in 2010 as a designer and consultant and joined the team full-time as Director of Marketing and Communications in January 2019. John holds a Masters Degree in piano performance from Manhattan School of Music and was formerly a concert pianist.

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JANEL MARTINEZ, Digital Marketing Coordinator

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CARLA PRECHT, Founding Executive Director

 

Founding Executive Director Carla Precht joined the Bronx Children’s Museum in January 2010. An innovative manager of not-for-profit programs for children and families throughout the New York area, she knows and loves the Bronx.

For 10 years Ms. Precht served as Executive Director of Riverdale Neighborhood House in the northwest Bronx where she extended the reach of the agency, revamped its development program and revitalized its services for teens, seniors, families and young children. Ms. Precht was the founding Executive Director of the first Horizons academic enrichment program for low-income children at Brooklyn Friends School. She spent five years as Deputy Director and then Acting Executive Director of Youth Action Program in East Harlem, she was a program officer for one of the city’s leading literacy-focused after school program foundations, the Robert Bowne Foundation, and she served for nine years as Community Service Director for the Brooklyn Friends School.

Ms. Precht has trained and provided technical assistance to foundations, countless community-based organizations and after school and day care providers through Lutheran Medical Center, Child Care Inc, and Interface.

She began her career as an art teacher at Union Settlement House in East Harlem. From 2006-2009, Ms. Precht co-produced and co-directed an award winning educational documentary film about body image called Beauty Mark (www.beautymarkmovie.com) which was released in 2009.

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Museum Guides

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Jessica Colon

James Montalvo

Natogoma Konate

Samantha Ortiz

Lexi Rogers

Jannie Richards

Bianco Brito

Cleanna Cardoza

Yoseline Sosa

Marilyn Sola-Tavarez

Sophia Gatreaux-Lantingua

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Renee Pena-Lopez

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Teaching Artists

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Dr. Valerie Capers

Christopher Gomez

Bobby Gonzalez

Ricardo Luss Nigaglioni

Yvette Martinez

Natalie C. Wood

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