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Fractional Leadership & Consulting
NATURAL HISTORY & SCIENCE
Mia Schillace-Nelson
Fractional Interpretation & Impact Leader
Natural history museums are navigating rapid change—declining attendance patterns, rising expectations around relevance and accessibility, and increasing pressure to generate earned revenue. Institutions with strong collections and research often struggle to translate that depth into flexible, scalable public experiences. I provide fractional executive leadership grounded in decades of experience developing traveling exhibitions and permanent galleries, helping museums extend their reach, test ideas at scale, and align interpretation with both mission and financial sustainability.
Fractional Leadership Roles
Chief of Interpretation
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Big-idea framing across permanent and traveling exhibitions
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Interpretive systems that function on-site, on the road, and digitally
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Alignment between curatorial vision, visitor experience, and revenue goals
Director of Impact
& Engagement
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Visitor experience strategy grounded in science literacy and accessibility
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Public interpretation that supports conservation outcomes and donor priorities
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Impact narratives meaningful to boards and funders
Strategic Advisor (Exhibitions &
Earned Revenue)
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Traveling exhibit strategy and portfolio development
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Licensing, partnerships, and touring feasibility​
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Grant- and sponsor-ready exhibit narratives
About Mia
Mia Nelson is a museum interpretation strategist with decades of experience leading interpretive planning, exhibition development, and traveling exhibit programs for natural history institutions. Her work focuses on making complex science and conservation issues understandable, engaging, and actionable—supporting both public trust and long-term institutional sustainability.