When Wendi Parson began her MA in the History of Design and Curatorial Studies at Parsons, she brought with her years of professional experience, including a transformative decade in the automotive world. Having held senior communications roles at both General Motors and Ford Motor Company, Parson entered graduate school with a deep understanding of American industry, storytelling, and cultural branding that became the foundation for a career shift to design and curatorial work at some of NYC’s most prominent museums.

While in the master’s program, offered jointly by Parsons and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Parson channeled her real-world work background in Detroit into academic inquiry and presented original research at national conferences. In one standout presentation,“Chrysler’s Imported from Detroit,” she combined her insider knowledge of the auto industry with critical design history, a topic she had been studying. She also immersed herself in exploring the stylistic, historical, and theoretical dimensions of European and American design. Her academic achievements were recognized with the Dean’s Scholarship Award two years in a row.

Throughout her career, Parson has engaged the public in storytelling about the connections between design, art, and innovation in forums including major companies like BMW. Today Parson continues to shape cultural narratives as the deputy director of Communications and Marketing at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York City. A member of the museum’s executive leadership team since 2018, she leads strategy for branding, communications, media relations, and visitor experience, shaping MAD’s public voice in a rapidly evolving cultural landscape.  

Parson previously led communications at Cooper Hewitt, where she served as the director of Communications and Marketing. She oversaw brand development and strategic communications, spearheading high-profile initiatives while working to build the brand and new audiences for the U.S. design museum. Parson has also held pivotal roles in a range of organizations, including NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Smart Design, and the Design Trust for Public Space. In her work, she focuses on telling complex stories in a way that resonates with a wide audience. As a design historian, she continues to explore popular and material culture through the lens of everyday design.

Parson’s unique path—from the factories of Detroit to the cultural institutions of New York—reveals how design shapes not only objects and the stories we tell about them but also the individuals who work in and transform the industry itself.