Guiding Future Professional Development at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino

Written By Amanda Krantz

Client: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino | Location: Washington, DC

 
 

We conducted an impact evaluation to assess the short- and mid-term outcomes of the Latino Museum Studies Program (offered as the Latino Museum Futures Program as of 2026), a long-standing professional development opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students developed by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL).

OVERVIEW

We partnered with NMAL to conduct an impact evaluation to assess the short- and mid-term outcomes of the Latino Museum Studies Program (LMSP) on its core audiences–undergraduate and graduate students interested in the museum profession. Funded by the Mellon Foundation, our evaluation served to guide NMAL’s strategic decision making about LMSP and future professional development programs at the museum. 

APPROACH

We designed a multi-method study:

  • Diary studies: We conducted two diary studies–one each for graduate fellows and undergraduate interns. The diary studies explored short-term outcomes for fellows and interns who were part of the 2025 LMSP and 2024 LMSP cohort, respectively. 

  • Retrospective surveys and interviews: We administered a standardized survey and conducted in-depth interviews with alumni of the LMSP program to explore mid-term outcomes for participants of the internship and fellowship programs.

  • Alumni focus groups: We conducted 2 focus groups with LMSP alumni to understand what professional development support participants need after the program as well as to solicit feedback about the future direction of the program.

CLIENT TAKEAWAYS

We found that participants are broadly meeting the outcomes that NMAL created for the programs. From the data, we discovered that LMSP alumni have pursued careers in arts and culture and that the program’s intentional structure (cohort model, weekly seminars, built-in practicum) exposes participants to networking opportunities and allows participants to develop skills, acquire knowledge, and build confidence in museum spaces. We also found that Smithsonian staff and LMSP alumni are unique assets for the program to leverage for mentoring and career development. Lastly, it was reiterated that alumni want to stay connected with one another and build further skills for their career development. We compiled recommendations for NMAL on how to sustain an LMSP alumni network, support the professional growth of LMSP alumni, and continue to support the professional development of students interested in the museum field.

Amanda Krantz

Amanda brings more than a decade of research and evaluation with museums as Director of Research + Practice.

Amanda is passionate about informal learning experiences and is particularly interested in helping museums welcome and support all experience seekers and learners.

She enjoys collaborating with the diverse range of clients with which Kera Collective works.  Amanda is energized by learning about the different people and communities that museums across the country aim to engage and helping museums do so through research and planning. 

Amanda serves as the Chair for the Professional Development Committee for the Visitor Studies Association (VSA) and leads the professional development working group.  Amanda previously served on the board of the American Alliance of Museum’s Committee on Audience Research and Evaluation (CARE). 

Outside of work, Amanda serves as Vice President of the PTA at her daughter’s school.  She enjoys being a parent, the therapeutic nature of gardening, and living in a small town in the Poconos. 

Amanda’s favorite cultural institution at the moment is Longwood Gardens because she spends time with her family there at holidays and special events. The Peggy Guggenheim Collection always has a special place in her heart because she interned there.

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