Dr. Abby Pfisterer

Dr. Abby Pfisterer serves as Chief Education and Learning Officer at the Wisconsin Historical Society, overseeing various educational programs and fostering engaging civics education opportunities for students.   

Pfisterer received a bachelor’s degree in history education and political science from Colorado State University, a master’s degree in non-profit management from University of Massachusetts Amherst and a doctorate in educational sustainability from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. 

Her professional background focuses on facilitating relevant and impactful history and civics education opportunities for students in classrooms and museums. She previously served in roles at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History and several historic sites in the Washington, D.C., area. 

Pfisterer is a leader in the field of history and civic learning through informal educational experiences. She is co-author of “Breaking Down the Siloes: Collaboration for a New Kind of History Exhibition” in the American Historical Association’s “Perspectives on History” magazine and lead author of multiple articles for the Smithsonian’s and American Association of Museum’s blogs. Pfisterer served on the Pedagogy Task Force during the development of the Educating for American Democracy Roadmap and was a member of the Made By Us national museum consortium steering committee. She currently serves as a liaison to the Wisconsin Council for the Social Studies and is a member of the Wisconsin Civic Learning Coalition.