
Dr. Kerry Sautner, Ed.D., is the president and chief executive officer of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, a museum interpreting the legacy of American criminal justice reform from the site of the world’s first penitentiary. The facility pioneered the large-scale use of solitary confinement in the early 19th century and housed approximately 85,000 people during its 142 years of operation. Today, Eastern State Penitentiary attracts hundreds of thousands of guests from around the world each year to explore the site’s fascinating past and contemplate some of the most critical issues facing our nation. Its innovative public history program draws connections to contemporary justice reform through an approach that values multiple perspectives, amplifies marginalized voices, and respects a broad range of visitors’ interests and learning styles.
In her previous role as the Chief Learning Officer at the National Constitution Center, Dr. Sautner was promoted to drive national civic education efforts and oversaw all aspects of the Center’s visitor experience and educational programming. Before joining the staff at the National Constitution Center in 2005, she worked on program development at the Franklin Institute, and has served as an adjunct professor at Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Sautner obtained her doctorate in education leadership and management from Drexel University with a focus on creativity and innovation within educational facilities. She earned her master’s degree in education from Drexel University, and a bachelor’s degree in biology and marine science from Rutgers University.
She is the president of the school board of the Lower Merion School District, a member of the Forum of Executive Women, and on the American Bar Association's Public Education Advisory Commission. Her academic writings have appeared in the Journal of Museum Education.
Board of Directors
Matthew Lee
Board Chair
Partner, White Collar Criminal Defense and Regulatory Compliance Practice Group, Fox Rothschild LLP
Nancy Klaus
Board Vice Chair
Nonprofit Consultant, Nancy Klaus LLC
Betsy Ivey
Preservation Committee Chair
Director, Philadelphia Fund for Black Sacred Spaces
Pamela Laucks
Finance Committee Chair
Consultant, Fiscal Strategies Group
Ellen Rosen
Strategic Planning Committee Chair
Former Lawyer and Business Executive
Michele Schiavoni
Programs and Marketing Committee Co-Chair
Executive Consulting CEO
Steven Shapiro
Programs and Marketing Committee Co-Chair
Former National Legal Director, American Civil Liberties Union
Lecturer-in-Law, Columbia Law School and NYU School of Law
Joseph Brasky
City Member
Commissioner of Public Property, City of Philadelphia
Conlan Crosley
Member
Director of Labor & Development, Philadelphia City Councilman Young 5th District
Jeffrey Ewing
Member
Volunteer and Consultant
Jordan Hyatt
Member
Associate Professor of Criminology and Justice Studies Director, Center for Public Policy, Drexel University
Danielle Kreppel
Member
Global Compliance Manager, Ernst & Young
Matthew Ray
Member
Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Chatterblast
Keith Reeves
Member
Professor, Political Science, Faculty Director, Program on Urban Inequality and Incarceration, Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility, Swarthmore College
Cara Schneider Bongiorno
Member
Independent, Former Media Relations Director, VISIT PHILADELPHIA®
Barbara Sicalides
Member
Partner, Antitrust & Business Litigation, Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP
Assata Thomas
Member
Executive Director of Office of Reentry Partnerships
Sara Woods
Member
Senior Manager, Ernst & Young
Miao Zhang
Member
Senior Manager, Ernst & Young