Elizabeth Eder

At Johns Hopkins, Elizabeth K. Eder serves as a lecturer in the MA in Museum Studies program and has worked at the Smithsonian Institution for more than 20 years, currently as a Research Associate in the curatorial department at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Beginning as the Assistant Director for National Education Partnerships at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (2005-2013) , she advanced into the role of Head of Education and Public Programs at the National Museum of Asian Art (2013-2018). Dr. Eder joined the Office of the Undersecretary for Education in 2018 as Program Director for PreK-12 Strategic Education Initiatives for all Smithsonian museums. She returned to NMAA to work on outreach and partnerships in the Office of the Deputy Director and as Program Administrator (April 2020-March 2024). She served as Interim Head of Education at the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum where she developed educational materials and programs and collaborated with curatorial staff on the development of the museum’s forthcoming 2026 exhibition (March 2024-March 2025).

Previous to her arrival at the Smithsonian, Eder taught social foundations of education (history, philosophy, and sociology) at the University of Maryland College Park and Millersville University for five years. She has also worked as director of professional education programs at the American Alliance of Museums, head of school and teacher programs at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, and lecturer at the National Gallery of Art.

The author of Constructing Opportunity: American Women Educators in Early Meiji Japan, co-editor and author of Hidden Messages: Instructional Materials for Investigating Culture, Eder has also authored numerous book chapters and articles in juried publications and museum print and digital resources. She is a frequent speaker at professional conferences and an invited lecturer at museums and universities. She also currently serves as a consultant on museum projects in Japan and China.

Eder holds a BA in design from American University, an MA in museum education from George Washington University, and a PhD in social foundations of education (comparative and historical) from University of Maryland College Park.