Carol Harsh co-founded and has directed the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street (MoMS) program since 1994.She played a key leadership role in the development of thirteen MoMS traveling exhibitions which have been hosted in over 1900 rural communities in all 50 states and Guam. Since 2012, more than 1,600 youth in 30 states have used MoMS methodologies to develop multimedia projects centered on their own local history and culture. She directs the Smithsonian’s Stories from Main Street podcast and digital storytelling projects, Exhibition Starter Kit projects in partnership with state humanities councils, as well as rural youth initiatives, most recently with 4-H partners.

She managed Smithsonian collaboration with state humanities councils since 1989. Her Smithsonian career began in 1986 at the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service where she built strong relationships with museums and cultural organizations of all sizes throughout the United States. Prior to her stint at the Smithsonian, Carol worked at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond providing outreach to educators. She learned about the diverse needs of community museums as interim director of the Virginia Association of Museums in 1984. Carol has a B.A. in Art and Art History from the University of Richmond and a MA in Art History from Virginia Commonwealth University.