Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology

Jenny received her BA in Anthropology from Seton Hall University, the pursuit of which focused not only on the topics of cultural exploration, sociology, and religious studies, but also the basics of scientific inquiry into the human condition, including biology, chemistry, and human anatomy and physiology. During this time, Jenny also began her museum career as a research assistant in the University’s Archaeological Research Center, which introduced her to maintaining exhibitions, cataloguing objects for storage, and desktop publishing. Jenny went on to earn her MA in Anthropology with a concentration in Forensic Anthropology from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where she gained a solid grounding in skeletal analysis and, during her work as a graduate assistant, a knowledge of the basics of cataloguing objects in electronic database format. These early experiences allowed her to develop a unique skillset tailored to museum work.

Subsequent to her graduate education, Jenny took on the role of Collections Manager for the Morris Museum (Morristown NJ), where she honed her skills in collections stewardship, exhibition design/installation/maintenance, and construction planning. Most recently, Jenny served as Registrar for both the bureaus of Cultural History and Fine Art at the New Jersey State Museum (Trenton NJ), where, in collaboration with her colleagues, she co-authored key museum documents – most notably its Integrated Pest Management and Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans – and gave professional development workshops regarding best practices in collections care and the role of art in human evolution. One of the things that Jenny enjoys most about working in museums is the experience of seeing or hearing a visitor learn something new by interacting with an object on view (no touching, of course!).