Ashleigh D. Coren

Ashleigh D. Coren serves as the Women's History Content and Interpretation Curator at the National Portrait Gallery and Acting Head of Education for the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative, where she develops research projects and programs focused on women in portraiture. After earning her BA in Art and Visual Culture from Bates College and MS in Archives Management from Simmons University, she has built a career bridging library science, museum education, and women's history. Her work encompasses conducting original research, developing public programs, and creating educational resources that highlight underrepresented voices in the gallery's collection. Beyond her curatorial role, she serves as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Maryland's College of Information Studies and facilitates the ACRL Information Literacy Immersion Program. Her contributions include adding NPG images to Wikimedia Commons, developing virtual exhibits for Google Arts & Culture, creating digital teaching collections through the Smithsonian Learning Lab, and publishing in notable journals such as The Journal of American Folklore and the International Review of African American Art. Her innovative approach to museum education combines primary source literacy with a commitment to divesting from harmful organizational practices while promoting diverse narratives in American history.