Abby Battis

“I believe that all students have something special that they can bring to their own education. I encourage my students to express themselves and accept themselves for who they are, as well as, embrace the differences of others which in turn makes the classroom a truly unique and respectful community. I believe that greater diversity leads to increases in the breadth and depth of learning.”Abby Battis is the Associate Director for Collections at Historic Beverly. She has more than a decade of experience in the museum field in curatorial practice and collections management. Abby holds a Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Museum Studies from the Harvard Extension School where she has been an adjunct instructor for six years teaching classes on the future of historic house museums and museum exhibition design fundamentals. She recently received a letter of commendation for her distinguished teaching performance in the Harvard Extension School. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Salem State University in Art History and Photography. Abby is an adjunct faculty member at Montserrat College of Art where she is a professor in the Art History Department teaching classes in Origins of Art, Modern Art Developments, Colonial Art, Realism, Impressionism and Surrealism, and the Italian Renaissance. She is a co-chair for the Registrars and Collections Care Specialists for the New England Museum Association as well as, co-chair for the New England sector of the American Alliance of Museums Collections Stewardship Committee. She has served as a consultant for various museums, including being an integral part of the strategic planning project for the Wenham Museum, an exhibition consultant for the Southold Historical Society on Long Island and an online exhibit consultant for the Issaquah History Museums in Washington State. She recently finished a project as museum historian for the Bakers Island Light project for Essex National Heritage. Abby has been named one of the Top 10 Women Leaders in the Region by North of Boston Business Magazine, and has received numerous awards including the Pioneer in Partnership Award from Essex National Heritage and the National Park Service, the Gold Star Award from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and was awarded an Arts and Culture Citation by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives.