Cory Keester-O'Mills, CIP
Creative Director
Phone:
954-501-0113
Email:
Home Base:
Wilton Manors, FL
Fashion Icon:
Ms. Frizzle and the Magic School Bus
(that bus could turn some looks!)
A Bit About Me
My first "museum job" was working with my grandmother at a nature center in the Florida Keys while on summer break in elementary school. I loved walking with guests through the woods and talking about the plants and animals we would see along the way. Fast forward a couple of decades, I'm still that kid, excited to share what I've learned with the world.
I've worked predominantly with aquariums, nature centers and science museums, crafting site-wide interpretive plans, developing exhibits, and managing projects big and small. Academically, I'm an anthropologist, through and through. I am fascinated by people--the ways we interact with the world and one another.
Work Experience
September 2025 - Present
February 2022 - September 2025
October 2016 - February 2022
August 2012 - October 2016
Creative Director at KOM Exhibition Services
Providing interpretive planning, exhibition development and project management services for museums, nature centers and aquariums
Exhibition Developer at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, Miami
Renovated the MeLab: The Discovery exhibition on health and medical literacy, and The Vista and The Dive levels of the Living Core aquarium. Fully developed The Dig and PaleoLab paleontological exhibition. Managed traveling exhibition program.
Exhibits Coordinator at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton
Managed exhibitions team to develop, maintain and improve visitor experience across 17-acre nature park, aquarium and sea turtle rehabilitation facility. Designed and built animal habitats in collaboration with veterinary staff and animal husbandry experts.
Science Educator, Public Programs at the Children’s Science Explorium, Boca Raton
Developed STEAM public programs for children (PreK to 5) and families. Trained and evaluated staff and volunteers in program facilitation and science communication best practices.
Education
2013-2017
Masters of Arts
Florida Atlantic University
Anthropology
Thesis: Olfaction and Exhibition: Assessing the Impacts of Scent in Museums on Exhibit Engagement, Learning and Empathy
2007-2011
Batchlors of Arts
Florida International University
Anthropology with minors in Global Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies
Let's Get
Social
