Meet Our Chief of Education and Responsive Learning

Chief of Education and Responsive Learning Tiffany McGettigan joined the Phillips in May 2025. Having previously spent nearly a decade at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and working as a DCPS teacher, she reflects on the importance of the arts and education. 

Art is powerful. It can transform a moment, a day, and in some cases, a lifetime. I have devoted my career to creating spaces for the power of art and am thrilled to now do this work with the incredible staff on the Education and Responsive Learning team at The Phillips Collection. After my first six months, I pause to reflect on the importance of the arts and education and to express gratitude for the incredible team of educators working at the Phillips. 

Tell us about yourself and your career in education. 

I didn’t set out to have a lifelong career in education. Nearly 25 years ago, I was on a two-year stint with Teach for America, teaching fourth grade in a DC public school just down the street from The Phillips Collection. At the time, I planned to attend law school after finishing my two years of teaching and service. 

As a first-year teacher, my classroom was full of students who had spent most of their elementary years with substitute teachers. These experiences had set them behind academically and significantly dampened their interest in learning. I quickly realized that my most important challenge would be engaging them in learning that was deep, intrinsic, and capable of instilling lifelong curiosity. How could I inspire an intrinsic desire for learning? 

Beyond the walls of the classroom, Washington, DC, is filled with inspiring museums and cultural spaces. As soon as I began taking my students to museums, I witnessed something remarkable. My students—many of whom were disengaged in the classroom and had been labeled “troublemakers”—slowed down, asked questions, and didn’t want to leave our museum visits. They were hooked, and so was I. 

I changed my career plans and went on to earn a Master’s in the Art of Teaching in Museum Education from The George Washington University. For the past 20 years, I have worked in the museum education field. 

What excites you most about The Phillips Collection? 

My department is filled with amazing people! Because the Phillips is such a special place, it attracts talented and passionate staff. The Education Department includes 11 incredible full-time staff members and 25 part-time educators. This team makes it possible to deliver programs for all ages at both of our locations—Dupont and Phillips@THEARC—as well as throughout DC communities. 

With my arrival, the Education Department has reorganized to strengthen our ability to deliver impactful programming for our current audiences while expanding our work to reach new audiences. The department now includes four divisions: Teaching and Learning, Public Programs, Phillips@THEARC, and the Library and Archives. 

These program areas offer unique strengths, from our exceptional school and teacher programs to one of DC’s first after-hours museum programs, Phillips after 5. Incorporating the library and archives into our department offers exciting opportunities to embed research and primary source material directly into our learning resources and public programs—what a gift!