Re: Museum security staff question

From: "Rachel Ropeik ropeik@gmail.com [talk at museum-ed.org]" <talk@museum-ed.org>

In-Reply-To: Re: Museum security staff question

Date: September 14th 2026

Hi Adam.

I managed the Guggenheim’s Gallery Guide program (another longstanding version of this approach to the job) for about 5 years. Ours involved a collaboration across the Education and Security departments that was a model I found very helpful.

I’m now consulting with museums on how to address uncertainty and change, and a lot of the work I’ve done has been shifting from an existing, long-standing mode of operations to something new.

Happy to talk if you’d like to email me directly or schedule a free call (see the link in my signature).

Cheers to doing the good work,

Rachel

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On Sep 14, 2026, at 10:23?AM, Krista Kusuma krista.d.kusuma@gmail.com [talk at museum-ed.org] <talk@museum-ed.org> wrote:

Re: [talk] Museum security staff question

Hi Adam,

I led the transition of a security-focused staff to using a visitor-friendly education "host" model at the ICA Boston more than 15 years ago, one of the early models of this shift, and I still hear it referenced in the field today. Since then I've done a fair amount of hands-on work building out training models that hold both protection and hospitality. I'd love to talk shop when you've the time.

Krista

Krista Kusuma, MA, CPCC, ACC (she/her)
Culture Architect | Leadership Coaching & Culture Consulting
I support leaders to champion belonging and build aligned, high-performing teams
Experience First LLC
617-595-5500 | Krista@ExperienceFirst.us
Schedule a time to connect

On Fri, Sep 11, 2026 at 12:01?PM Rizzo, Adam amrizzo@upenn.edu [talk at museum-ed.org] <talk@museum-ed.org> wrote:

I’m interested in learning more about how different museums approach hiring and training security officers, especially at university museums. My museum currently contracts with an outside security company, but I’ve seen other models where museums have transitioned to gallery attendants/ambassadors, who focus both on protecting the collection and engaging with visitors. I’m also looking for examples of successful approaches for making visitors feel less policed by security in gallery spaces, even if it’s just as simple as transitioning to less formal uniforms or instituting training sessions. If you have any examples from your institutions, I’d be grateful to hear your perspectives. Please feel free to contact me directly at amrizzo@upenn.edu. Many thanks!
All best,
Adam

Adam Rizzo (he, him, his)
School Visit Manager
Pen?n Museum
T: 215.573.9107
www.penn.museum | @pennmuseum

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