Kathleen Felli, of Elizabeth, works as the Major Gifts Coordinator at the Studio Museum in Harlem, where she supports fundraising efforts that advance the museum’s mission of arts and cultural preservation. In her role, Felli supports fundraising efforts that advance the museum’s mission, affirming her passion for cultural preservation through museum education.
The Studio Museum in Harlem, which recently reopened after raising $300 million in its seven-year long Capital Campaign, is a center for local, national and international African American artists and for work that has been inspired by Black culture. Felli’s work affirms her passion for the cultural preservation of underrepresented communities through museum education.
Felli said her road to finding career success began with her education at Union County Vocational-Technical Schools (UCVTS). A 2020 graduate of the district’s Teacher Education Academy, she said UCVTS shaped her both professionally and personally, skills she now applies in education-focused nonprofit work.
“What I enjoyed most about my experience at UCVTS was the exposure I had to different careers at such a young age,” said Felli. “Frequent guest speaker events and career-focused projects were staples of my education and provided the advantage of learning about the diversity of professions I could choose from.”
After graduating from UCVTS, Felli attended Georgetown University and earned dual degrees in English and Government with a minor in Spanish. This fall, she plans to continue her education by enrolling in a Juris Doctor program.
“Being a student enrolled in the UCVTS Teacher Education Academy, I learned many skills like how to write a professional email and how to present in front of a group of my peers,” said Felli. “As a college student at Georgetown University, this prior experience was certainly an advantage and has made me confident in my abilities.”
Felli’s experience reflects how career and technical education can expose students to diverse career pathways early on, while building professional skills that support education-focused nonprofit work and long-term success.
