Spotlight on Alumna Randi Cromer: An Unexpected Path, a Rewarding Career
When Randi Cromer (MA ’14) began her undergraduate Art History studies at FSU in 2010, she intended to pursue a PhD in the field and eventually to teach in a college or university. By the time she received her master’s degree, these plans had changed; she had discovered a passion for museum administration. Her experiences as a student revealed a knack for multitasking and leading people to accomplish goals as a team – skills that now serve her well in several important roles at Studio Incamminati School for Contemporary Realist Art in Philadelphia.
While working toward her MA, Randi served as President of the Art History Association and started a writing colloquium group for her fellow graduate students. The group met once a week to read and edit one another’s works, while learning about each other’s projects. These successful experiences as an organizer reinforced her growing desire to pursue an administrative museum career.
In 2015 Randi was hired by the Philadelphia Museum of Art to be a part of its Visitor Services Team, assisting guests and driving sales for the museum. The following year she moved to the Visitor Services Team at The Barnes Foundation. During this time she also worked for The Portrait Society of America’s annual conference, where she met the artists and staff of Studio Incamminati School for Contemporary Realist Art. This atelier instills in its graduates the classical traditions of Renaissance-era masters, the luminous color of the Impressionists, and a fresh, contemporary sensibility. Randi now works for the school as the Administrative Services Manager, Financial Aid Advisor, and Art History Lecturer. Her day-to-day tasks include enrolling students, bookkeeping, planning and executing fundraising events and exhibitions, and preparing lectures for the program.
Working in non-profit combines my knowledge of art history and my higher-level degree with my skill-set for working with people. I enjoy teaching, coordinating events, guiding future artists, and learning new skills for future opportunities. It is my goal to support a new generation of artists that future art historians will one day discuss. My time at FSU really developed my critical thinking, while I was supported by knowledgeable faculty, staff, and peers.
