Member Minute with Christian Malatesta

Where do you work? Tell us about what you do.

I work at the Museum of the American Revolution as the Executive Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer. I maintain the COO’s appointment schedule by planning and scheduling meetings and teleconferences; provide general administrative support; attend meetings to take minutes and distribute follow-up materials; act as Office Manager; update the Museum’s phone greeting; and manage and organize events. I have also acted a as project manager for our website redesign; assisting the Marketing Department with writing copy for emails and SEO tags for our webpages; acting as administrative support for our Citizenship Initiative program; acting as staff liaison with USCIS when we host naturalization ceremonies; writing Donor Spotlights for our Annual Report; and copyediting the Annual Report.

What professional experiences did you have that led you to your current position?

I attained my bachelor’s degree in English Writing from La Salle University in 2012. Shortly after graduating, I started working as a freelance copyeditor and writer for the Woodmere Art Museum. In January 2014, I started working towards my master’s degree in liberal studies at Rutgers University-Camden. During this program, I took a Public History course (since I found myself working for museums/non-profits, I thought this would be an interesting course). I absolutely fell in love with the field. The professor of the course was also the director of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities (MARCH).

I received my master’s degree in the spring of 2017, around the time the Museum of the American Revolution opened. I was eager for a job change and thought working at a new institution would be different. In the fall of 2018, the position working with the COO opened and I applied, knowing this would be an exciting role where multitasking was a top skill. I got the job and have been working at MoAR since December 2018.

What are some challenges you have faced in your career?

I would say that it took me a little longer to get where I wanted to be than I thought it would. However, my experiences leading me to this point were educational and worthwhile. And I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

What is the most meaningful part of your job?

Assisting the leadership team in fulfilling our mission, vision, and values daily.

What is your favorite part of your job? What is the hardest part?

My favorite part of the job is interacting with all the employees at the Museum. Oftentimes, scheduling appointments is the hardest part of my job—there are only so many hours in a day!

What skills have been most helpful to you in your career?

Multi-tasking and time management.

What values are you committed to? How have they changed since you started your career?

Teamwork, integrity, creativity, loyalty, compassion, communication, and honesty.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

I love attending concerts with my fiancé, traveling, baking, walking through nature trails, meditating, writing short stories, watching tennis, socializing with friends, watching Real Housewives, and volunteering. Currently, I volunteer with the Haddon Township Equity Initiative and the Saddler’s Woods Conservation Association—organizations in my hometown.

What have you read lately?

I am a huge fan of autobiographies and horror novels. I just finished Bram Stroker’s Dracula for the first time (even though I have seen every film version around).

Why did you join the Museum Council?

To stay connected to the diverse community of museums and cultural institutions in Philly.

Why and in what ways have you continued to be part of the Museum Council community?

I think it is important to stay connected to organizations in the field. I became a member to be active in the community.

What have you learned that you can share with aspiring/emerging museum professionals?

Volunteer. It adds so much value to your resume and your life experiences. Also, you may not always end up on the career path you thought you would be on. Trust the process.

Since this interview, Christian’s title has changed to Executive Assistant to President & Chief Executive Officer.