Project Team
Patricia Lannes, Project Director
Patricia Lannes has worked in the fields of visual literacy and museum education for over 20 years. She is the Founder and Project Director of CALTA21 (Cultures and Literacies through Art for the 21 st Century,) a model initiative funded by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS.) The CALTA21 concept was inspired by her own personal experience as an immigrant and as an English language learner, as well as her museum education practice. As Project Director, she leads the initiative from conception to completion, which includes responsibility for its demonstration and dissemination and achievement of the goals and objectives outlined on the proposal during the 3 year grant. CALTA21 is a model program that builds the capacity of art museums and community based organizations and higher education partnerships to engage and empower adult English language learners by strengthening their academic, social, cultural and civic capital. CALTA21 was identified by the Center for the Future of Museums, a division of the American Association of Museums, as a replicable and self-sustaining model that addresses national demographic trends, can have national impact, and can be used by other institutions for improving services and performance. Through her work with CALTA21, Lannes was nominated to be recognized at the White House as a Champion of Change, an award for Americans with innovative ideas who are making a difference in their communities.
Prior to becoming the Project Director of CALTA21, Lannes was the Director of Education at the Nassau County Museum of Art. While overseeing the Education department, she developed visitor centered programs and materials that provided engaging and authentic experiences sustained by meaningful and relevant exhibition interpretation. Her outreach efforts built lasting relationships with different community constituencies that led to an expansion of the museum’s audience. Lannes frequently
address issues of visual literacy, outreach, diversity, civic dialogue, immigrant museum audiences, community outreach and institutional partnerships through local, regional and national conferences. As part of her outreach efforts she also leads professional development training sessions for museum professionals, teaching artists, educators k-12 and university professors. A native from Uruguay, she is Chair Elect on the Board of Directors of the Latino Network, a professional interest committee from the American Alliance of Museums.
Kitty Bateman, Co-Principal Investigator
Professor Kitty Bateman is a Professor in the Department of Academic Literacy at Queensborough
Community College/CUNY. For sixteen years she has been the Director of the QCC Literacy Program,
providing free English language instruction to new immigrants in Queens. Professor Bateman has also
been instrumental in funding and administering a family literacy program. She holds an M.A. degree
in Educational Psychology and a J.D. degree from The CUNY School of Law. Currently, she is Principal
Investigator of an IMLS National Leadership Grant entitled “Cultures and Literacies Through Art for the
21st Century.”
Margot Edlin, Co-Principal Investigator
Margot Diekmann Edlin, Ed.D. is a Faculty Fellow in the Office of Academic
Affairs and Associate Professor in the Department of Academic Literacy at
Queensborough Community College – CUNY. A professional educator for the past
twenty-two years, Dr. Edlin has experience in teaching the English Language Arts to
native speakers and English Language Learners in grades seven through twelve and on
the college level. She has published research on motivation and persistence in urban
community college students. She is a graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University
and specialized in curriculum and teaching, as well as professional development, teacher
education and educational leadership.
Valerie Smosna, M.A. joined the CALTA21 team in 2012 as the project coordinator and web director. She is also currently a Program Assistant and Instructor for Queensborough Community College’s Adult Literacy Program. Her background in art history and her focus on the intersection of art, social justice and underrepresented populations, has been instrumental to her work on CALTA21. She received her M.A. in art history from Bryn Mawr College and her B.A. from Haverford College.