Heritage Education & Public Program Coordinator, Town of Stouffville
History 2016

Ohan Stamboulian is a museum education professional with a passion for history and public engagement. Since graduating York University in 2016, Ohan has worked in a number of museums including Markham Museum, Pickering Museum Village, and the Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum & Community Centre where he currently works as the Heritage Education & Public Program Coordinator. Through various roles he has had the opportunity to work in archives, collections, special events, public engagement, and exhibitions. A graduate of York University’s undergraduate History program and most recently earning his master’s degree in Museum Education from the University of British Columbia, Ohan also holds a Certificate in Museum Studies from the Ontario Museum Association among a number of other professional certifications related to his field. He specializes in the pedagogical processes that unfold in spaces of informal learning and the ways museums can engage diverse audiences, putting into practice that ‘offering something for everyone does not mean offering something that is for everyone.’ Key areas of work and interest for Ohan are projects related to Truth & Reconciliation in museum spaces, the ‘a-ha’ moments that take place among museum visitors, evening haunted walk style programming, and the hidden curriculum that permeates all museums. When not at work, Ohan can be found exploring on weekend getaways or watching ghost documentaries.

During and following my time with York’s Department of History, I have gained experience in curatorial and collections work, archives, educational programming, and have held various interpretive positions at a handful of museums throughout the GTA. I have had the opportunity to experience everything from cataloguing and artifact work to costumed interpretation and coal forge blacksmithing. The faculty within the program were supportive and understanding of their students’ needs throughout the duration of the program, and my professor has kept in touch and has been a reliable professional reference throughout the trajectory of my career.