Eileen Tomczuk

Eileen hails from South Jersey and moved to New Orleans to attend Tulane University. She graduated with a B.A. in Art History and Film Studies. She later earned her M.A. in Museology and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management at the University of Washington in Seattle before returning to New Orleans. Her research interests are at the intersection of urban studies, cultural studies, spatial and racial justice, and historic preservation.  

Prior to starting the CCC program, Eileen worked in museums and nonprofits as a curator, educator, program manager, and grants manager. Her year of AmeriCorps VISTA service at Rebuilding Together New Orleans deepened her interest in the preservation of New Orleans neighborhoods, culture, and communities. In a development role at the National WWII Museum, Eileen was inspired by visitors’ desires to learn from and connect with the past. Eileen gained experience in audience research and program evaluation while implementing national research studies for the Children's Museum Research Network and managing evaluation of all public programs at the Bill & Melinda Gates Discovery Center. She also contributed to evaluation projects at the Louisiana Children's Museum, the Woodland Park Zoo, and the Pacific Science Center. As the Curator of Education at the Louisiana State Museum, Eileen developed and implemented exhibitions, educational programs, and evaluation plans.

In the course of her studies, Eileen aims to research community-engaged approaches to historic preservation and public history in New Orleans.