For nearly 30 years Mary Kay Cunningham has focused on learning experiences in museums and specifically the role of interpretation, educator professional development, leadership, and visitor experience planning in shaping visitor learning.

Mary Kay is co-editor of the new book Museum Education for Today’s Audiences: Meeting Expectations with New Models (Rowman and Littlefield AAM Series 2022) and the author of the best-selling book, The Interpreters Training Manual for Museums, (AAM, 2004 & Italian translation by University of Macerata, 2012). In addition to publishing select articles, she continues her commitment to fostering learning conversations in the field by serving on the editorial board for the Journal of Museum Education and through regular presentations at professional meetings (click on RESOURCES tab above for more information).  Additionally, Mary Kay serves as an instructor at the University of Victoria developing and teaching the first graduate level course in Visitor Experience design.

Mary Kay has served in the role of volunteer, educator, manager, and/or consultant to over 35 museums (click on CLIENTS below for a partial list of clients). Her track record of successful projects with Dialogue relies on bringing together teams of independent professionals best suited to meeting the client's needs. Her ability to facilitate group learning and bring together diverse stakeholders to navigate institutional change have become a hallmark of her work.