Dr. Philippa Rappoport

Dr. Philippa Rappoport serves as the Lead for Education and Engagement at the Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology, where she spearheads the development of innovative digital learning experiences through the award-winning Smithsonian Learning Lab. Her unique background combines academic scholarship, evidenced by her Ph.D. in Slavic Folklore and Linguistics, with practical expertise in museum education and digital learning. In her role, she focuses on creating and implementing educational resources that foster deep learning experiences through digital museum collections, developing teacher professional development programs, and creating engaging digital assets for diverse audiences from PreK-16 schools to English Language learners. As the Smithsonian's liaison for Montgomery College's Faculty Fellowship Program, she facilitates vital connections between higher education and museum resources, while simultaneously teaching Russian Culture at George Washington University. Her work encompasses platform support and enhancement, public engagement programming, and the development of digital learning strategies that make museum collections more accessible and engaging for educators and learners worldwide. Through her leadership, she continues to advance museum education practices by bridging traditional cultural education with innovative digital learning approaches, contributing significantly to the field of museum education and digital engagement.