Bethany Fleming is a museum and exhibit development professional with over 20 years experience in museum planning and creation, interpretive planning, exhibit development, and curation.

Before creating Fleming Museum Consulting, Bethany served as the Director of Museum Experience and Curator at the National Hellenic Museum. Bethany was hired by the National Hellenic Museum to guide the process of creating their new museum building in Chicago's Greektown. The new National Hellenic Museum opened its doors in 2011.

Previously, Bethany was the founding Curator and Director of Collections & Exhibitions for the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center in Skokie, Illinois. Bethany served as a lead team member for the creation of the museum, overseeing all aspects of museum interpretive and exhibition development. She worked closely with architect Stanley Tigerman and the general contractor of the new facility. As the Director of Collections & Exhibitions, Bethany led a team in growing the Collection from 200 objects to over 11,000, and was the staff curator and project lead for the museum's permanent exhibition, art gallery, youth exhibition and opening temporary exhibition.

Bethany's other museum building projects include the Geneva History Center in Geneva, IL where she worked with staff, architects, and builders to renovate the Kane County Title Company building into a museum on Geneva's historic Third Street. She facilitated the move and reorganization of the center's collections and archives, and led the creation of the permanent exhibition, 'Greetings from Geneva: a trip through history', which won awards from the Illinois Association of Museums and the Association for State and Local History.

Bethany has worked with a diverse group of organizations to create a wide array of engaging museums and exhibitions, including Mackinac State Historic Parks, the New-York Historical Society, the Chicago Architecture Foundation, and the Chicago Bears Football Club. 

Education

Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana | Bachelor of Arts, American Studies, Humanities

Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois | Master of Arts, Public History

Professional Affiliations

Bethany is a member of the American Alliance of Museums, the National Association for Museum Exhibition, the National Association for Interpretation, Chicago Museum Exhibitors Group, the Illinois Association of Museums, the Association of Midwest Museums, and the Chicago Cultural Alliance, where she serves on various committees.