Nina Simon

Nina Simon was born July 15, 1981.{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Simon, Nina|url=https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2011058788.html|access-date=2021-10-09|website=The Library of Congress, from LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies}} Simon holds a B.S. degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in electrical engineering and mathematics.{{cite web

|url= http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2015/07/29/silicon-valley-40-under-40-2015-nina-simon.html

|title= Silicon Valley 40 under 40 2015: Nina Simon

|author= Lynn Peithman Stock

|date= July 29, 2015

|work= Article

|publisher= Bizjournals

|accessdate= March 14, 2017

}}

During the majority of her career, Nina has worked as an independent consultant and exhibition designer with an expertise in social technology, gaming, and participatory design. During this time she worked with over one hundred museums and cultural centers around the world. In addition to her professional work, she has served on advisory committees for IMLS and AAAS projects concerning the future of museums and libraries.{{cite web

|url= https://www.wpi.edu/news/simonadv

|title= WPI to Present 'Museum Visionary' Nina Simon at Higgins Armory on Sept. 22

|work= Webpage

|publisher= Worcester Polytechnic Institute

|accessdate= March 14, 2017

}}

Nina is known for her work as an author and public speaker. Over the years she has spoken to a multitude of audiences about her participatory audience and programming philosophy. Most notably, she has appeared on TEDx,{{Cite web|date=2012-09-16|title=It Wasn't Just the Talks at TEDx Santa Cruz, but the Networking|url=https://patch.com/california/santacruz/it-wasn-t-just-the-talks-at-tedx-santa-cruz-but-the-networking|access-date=2021-10-09|website=Santa Cruz, CA Patch|language=en}} and was the Keynote Speaker at the 2012 AFTA/National Arts Marketing Project Conference.

Previously, Nina has held the position of Curator at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, California and was the Experience Development Specialist at the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC.{{cite web

|url= http://www.participatorymuseum.org/about-the-author/

|title= About the Author

|work= Webpage

|publisher= Nina Simon

|accessdate= March 14, 2017

}} She was the executive director of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History from 2012 until June 2020.{{Cite web|last=Dunn|first=Geoffrey|date=2019-06-05|title=How Nina Simon Reinvented Santa Cruz Art|url=https://goodtimes.sc/cover-stories/nina-simon-reinvented-art-santa-cruz/|access-date=2021-10-09|website=Good Times Santa Cruz|language=en-US}} She also worked as an adjunct professor at The University of Washington Museology Program, where she taught a course on Social Technologies in Exhibition Design.

In addition, she is the principal of a design firm called Museum 2.0, which works internationally with museums, libraries, and cultural institutions to create educational programs and audience-driven exhibitions. She also authors the Museum 2.0 blog which reaches around 16,000 readers weekly{{cite web

|url= http://www.museumsandtheweb.com/mw2010/bios/au_440016731.html

|title= Speakers: Biography - Nina Simon

|work= Webpage

|publisher= Museums and the Web 2010

|accessdate= March 14, 2017

}} and writes a column in Museum Magazine. Nina is currently a board member of The Center for the Future of Museums. Nina Simon on building community organizations OF, BY & FOR ALL.{{cite web

|url= https://www.museumnext.com/insight/ofbyfor-all-nina-simon-santa-cruz/

|title= Nina Simon on building community organizations OF, BY & FOR ALL on June 14, 2018

|work= Webpage

|publisher= MuseumNext

|accessdate= June 14, 2018

}}

• American Alliance for Museums’ Nancy Hanks Memorial Award (2012){{cite web|title=Staff and Board Information|url=https://santacruzmah.org/about/contact-us/|work=Webpage|publisher=Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History|accessdate=March 14, 2017}}
• Among the 50 most “powerful and influential people in nonprofit arts” (Western States Arts Federation, 2012 and 2013)
• Described as a Museum Visionary by Smithsonian Magazine for her audience-centered approach to design
• Awarded an Ashoka Fellowship in 2019{{Cite web|url=https://www.ashoka.org/en-us/fellow/nina-simon|title=Nina Simon|website=Ashoka {{!}} Everyone a Changemaker|language=en-us|access-date=2019-12-05}}
• Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce "Woman of the Year" for 2017{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2017-09-07|title=Nina Simon, Rene Schlaepfer, Lance Linares honored by Santa Cruz Chamber|url=http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/business/20170907/nina-simon-rene-schlaepfer-lance-linares-honored-by-santa-cruz-chamber|access-date=2019-12-05|website=Santa Cruz Sentinel|language=en-US}}

• {{Cite book|last=Simon|first=Nina|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YK6MDAEACAAJ|title=The Art of Relevance|publisher=Museum 2.0|year=2016|isbn=9780692701492|oclc=964064946}}
• {{Cite book|last=Simon|first=Nina|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qun060HUcOcC|title=The Participatory Museum|publisher=Museum 2.0|others=Jennifer Rae Atkins (contribution)|year=2010|isbn=9780615346502|location=Santa Cruz, California|oclc=780992997}}
• {{Cite book|last=Simon|first=Nina|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4fafEAAAQBAJ|title=Mother-Daughter Murder Night|publisher=HarperCollins|year=2023|isbn=9780063315068}}

Simon is also the author of the Museum 2.0 blog.

{{reflist}}

• Interview: [http://www.pcah.us/posts/71_museum_director_nina_simon_on_inspiring_visitor_participation Museum Director Nina Simon on Inspiring Visitor Participation]
• [http://museumtwo.blogspot.com/2006/12/what-is-museum-20.html?m=1 Blog Museum 2.0]

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Category:1981 births

Category:Living people

Category:Directors of museums in the United States

Category:American women museum directors

Category:Worcester Polytechnic Institute alumni

Category:People from Santa Cruz, California