Catherine Matthews, Director of Education, Old North Illuminated

Catherine Matthews is the Director of Education at Old North Illuminated where she oversees the planning, creation, and implementation of on-site interpretation and virtual/curricular educational programming.  Catherine has been on staff at ONI for 6 years, having joined in 2017 as Co-Director of Education and acted as interim Executive Director from January-June 2020.  During her tenure, she has led a transformation of ONI’s programming, including securing two highly competitive National Endowment for the Humanities grants In implementing the grant awards, Catherine led an interpretive planning process, created a year-long research fellowship, and developed several new initiatives including an on-site audio guide, new permanent exhibit, and a portfolio of curricular offerings.  For her efforts, Catherine received a 2023 Mass History Alliance STAR Award.  Catherine holds a BA, magna cum laude in English and American Literature from Harvard University and an MLA in English from Harvard University Extension School.