Wendy Ng
PhD Student, Education Consultant, Author
For organizations to have maximum impact within communities while executing on their mandates and vision, it’s imperative that they embrace change and progress.
As a senior education and programming leader, with strengths rooted in equity and change management, I have steered strategic directions and championed change to ensure organizations deliver relevant and impactful educational experiences that are well-aligned with the communities they serve.
With over twenty years experience overseeing education and program development within large, non-profit public institutions including the Ontario Science Centre, Royal Ontario Museum and Art Gallery of Ontario, I’m passionate about ensuring non-formal and informal learning environments are responsive to user interests and needs to ensure authentic engagement. I have a solid understanding of learning theories, stages of human development, and learner motivations. Now, as a PhD student at the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, my professional experience has inspired my research interests in decolonial and anti-colonial pedagogies of solidarity and challenging settler colonial logics in museums.
In addition to my steadfast commitment to delivering exceptional education and program opportunities, I’m deeply dedicated to advocating for anti-racism, equity, and justice. As a change management leader, I’m known for imbedding and actualizing these values in all aspects from staffing and pedagogical approaches to work culture and relationship-building with prioritized communities.
Check out my LinkedIn for more about my professional experience.
PUBLICATION HIGHLIGHTS
Ng, W., Hudson, A. & Roessel, J. (Eds.). (2022). Radical Reimaginings in Museum Education. Journal of Museum Education, 47(1), 4-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/10598650.2022.2031523
Ng, W., Ayayqwayaksheelth, J. & Chu, S. (2022). From Roots to Seeds: Authentic Indigenous Museum Education. Journal of Museum Education, 47(1), 18-31. https://doi.org/10.1080/10598650.2021.1986667
Ng, W. & Ayayqwayaksheelth, J. (2018, June 12). Decolonize and Indigenize: A Reflective Dialogue. VIEWFINDER: Reflecting on Museum Education. https://medium.com/viewfinder-reflecting-on-museum-education/decolonize-and-indigenize-a- reflective-dialogue-3de78fa76442
Ng, W., Ware, S. & Greenberg, A. (2017). Activating Diversity and Inclusion: A Blueprint for Museum Educators as Allies and Change Makers. Journal of Museum Education, 42(2), 142-154. https://doi.org/10.1080/10598650.2017.1306664
Ng, W. & Ware, S. (2014). Excellence and Equity?: A Reflection on the Diversification of Museums. In J. Boyd Acuff & L. Evans (Eds.), Multiculturalism in Art Museums Today (pp. 37-57). Rowman & Littlefield.
INVITED LECTURES AND EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS
Equity and Accessibility in Galleries and Museums Workshop (invited presenter and panelist), Galeries Ontario Galleries (June 1, 2023)
Embracing Our Power: Propelling the Future of Museum Education (invited keynote panelist), Museum Educators of Southern California, 2022 Annual Institute (May 24, 2022)
University of Delaware Anti-Racism Initiative (invited lecture), University of Delaware, Art History Department (Apr 23, 2021)
Shape the Museum: Syrus Marcus Ware and Wendy Ng (public program webinar), Art Gallery of Ontario (Jul 2, 2020)
Museum Detox: Cleansing institutions of unconscious bias and developing anti-racist praxis (invited panelist), University of Toronto, Museum Studies (Mar 12, 2020)
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
Ng, W. (2022, May 24). Embracing Our Power: Propelling the Future of Museum Education [Invited keynote panelist]. Museum Educators of Southern California, Virtual.
Ng, W. (2021, June 21). GLAM Workers as Agents of Change [Invited panelist]. Library and Archives of Canada Forum for University Partners, Virtual.
Ng, W., Sandy, A., Saleem, S., & Mabasa, D. (2020, October 19-21). Transformation from the Outside In: How Community Outreach Can Drive Internal Change [Conference presentation]. Association of Science and Technology Centers Annual Conference, Virtual.
Ng, W. & Scorsone, J. (2019, May 19-22). Activating Material Culture to Foster Pluralism [Conference presentation]. American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, United States.
Ng, W., Ayayqwayaksheelth, J., & Jama, S. (2019, April 14-17). Back to the Museum Future: Tomorrow's Diverse Leadership Today [Conference presentation]. Canadian Museums Association National Conference, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Ng, W., Hendrick, K., Frank, P., & Rosenfield, S. (2019, March 14-16). Change Comes from Within: Viewfinder Reflects on Social Justice in Museum Education [Conference presentation]. National Art Education Association National Convention, Boston, MA, United States.
Ng, W. & Ayayqwayaksheelth, J. (2018, November 2). Why bother with truth and reconciliation in the non-profit sector? [Conference presentation]. Xlerate Day, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Ng, W., Ayayqwayaksheelth, J., & Chu, S. (2018, May 6-9). Activating Agentic Indigenous Voices and Ancestral Objects through Digital Learning [Conference presentation]. American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
MEMBERSHIP AND AFFILIATION HIGHLIGHTS
Board of Directors, Museum Education Roundtable: President (2023-Present), Co-Vice President (2021-2023), Recruitment Task Force Chair (2022), Editorial Team Co-Chair (2020-2021)
Services Consultation Committee Member, Library and Archives of Canada (2021 – Present)