I’m Nora Riesenberg, an educator, consultant, and public historian based in Washington, DC. I help organizations investigate complex questions, develop meaningful learning experiences, and turn ideas into practical work.

I began my career as a teacher and school designer in New York City and earned an MPA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. That combination of classroom experience and public-sector training shapes how I approach projects: start with the people a project serves, examine the evidence, and make the work useful.

At Explore! Children’s Museum at Art Place at Fort Totten, my work has encompassed program development, partnerships, family outreach, and operations. I helped develop recurring hands-on programming and worked with partners on arts and movement experiences, including the 2026 Explore × Dance Loft summer camp. I also developed planning and evaluation tools to connect what happened in the space with the organization’s next decisions.

Alongside my consulting work, I lead the Kiawah Island History Project. Since 2021, I have researched the lives of people enslaved by the Vanderhorst family and the histories of their families and communities. The project brings together archival research, a public-facing database, and interpretation of the South Carolina Lowcountry’s history.

Across these areas, I’m interested in how knowledge becomes something people can use: a clearer account of the past, a learning experience, or a plan that helps an organization move forward.