Aquarium welcomes new Associate Vice President of Content, Learning, and Engagement

BOSTON, MASS. (Aug. 4, 2026) – The New England Aquarium is pleased to welcome Jessica Pederson as its new Associate Vice President of Content, Learning, and Engagement.

In her role, Pederson will provide strategic leadership to the Aquarium’s education and community engagement teams. She will oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative, outcomes-based, and dynamic programs for diverse audiences at the Aquarium and in the community.

“The New England Aquarium aims to inspire everyone to form a deeper connection to the ocean and take action to protect it. Given her track record, we are thrilled to bring Jessica on board to elevate our engagement and educational experiences,” said Dr. Letise LaFeir, Chief of Conservation and Stewardship of the New England Aquarium.

Most recently, Pederson was the head of public programs at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University where she led an integrated division responsible for youth and adult education, visitor engagement, interpretation, community outreach, volunteer programs, and public events. She previously served as Director of Education at the New England Botanic Garden. She has been recognized for aligning programs with organizational priorities and building partnerships that broaden audience reach and institutional influence. Pederson holds a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Conservation from UMass Amherst and a Master of Professional Studies in Public Garden Leadership from Cornell University.

“The New England Aquarium has an extraordinary ability to bring science, conservation, and storytelling together in ways that inspire curiosity and create lasting connections with the ocean. I’m excited to join this talented team and help build experiences and community connections that engage people of all ages and inspire care for our blue planet,” Pederson said.

MEDIA CONTACT: Pam Bechtold Snyder—psnyder@neaq.org