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In the Spotlight: Jenny Reilly ’16

It’s not every day that someone has the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the most bedazzling jewels in American history, but that’s just what Jenny Reilly ’16 gets to do as the exhibition coordinator/assistant registrar for the Tiffany Archives at Tiffany & Co. The archaeology major with a dual-minor in media writing and religion is putting her Lycoming education in motion as she travels the world for exhibition installations.

You were an archaeology major focused on the ancient near east at Lycoming College and went on to earn your master’s degree in museum professions from Seton Hall. How did Lycoming prepare you for continuing your education? 

Lycoming definitely set me up for success in graduate school. Many of my graduate classes were heavily discussion based and often in small group settings, and my classes at Lycoming were very similarly structured. Because of that, I was already comfortable engaging in thoughtful, critical conversations with both my peers and professors. Additionally, my hands on field work experience as part of my archaeology courses helped me realize how much I loved working with artifacts and processing collections which led me to pursue collections management as a focus of my graduate studies.

You were very active during your four years on campus. You wrote for “The Lycourier,” were a sister of Alpha Xi Delta, served as a class officer, and were a Chieftain nominee, just to name a few. How did that participation shape your college experience? 

I loved being so involved on campus, and I had to really learn to manage my time to balance everything! I had the freedom to explore many of my interests outside of the classroom while at Lycoming which really made my time at school so vibrant. These experiences made me more confident, organized, and comfortable working with a wide range of people. I also made some lifelong friends, especially my Alpha Xi Delta sisters!

In 2022, you left your position at the Museum for Early Trades and Crafts to take on a new role as archives exhibitions coordinator for Tiffany & Co. Tell us about your role there. 

I work as the exhibition coordinator/assistant registrar for the Tiffany Archives, the heritage department for Tiffany & Co. Much like a museum, we collect, preserve, interpret, and display the history of the company from 1837 to the present day. We serve the various departments of Tiffany, including design, store planning, public relations, and more. A large part of my job is managing preparing our objects for exhibits and loans around the world. I manage logistics, complete condition checks, and oversee installation of these pieces. I have installed exhibitions of Tiffany archival objects in our major flagship stores, high jewelry events, and large-scale brand exhibitions. I’ve had the opportunity to travel for these installations to some incredible locations, such as Tokyo, Bangkok, Milan, and Paris. A unique part of my job is managing loans to celebrities and overseeing object handling for red carpets events, photoshoots, and major film shoots.

What is your favorite piece from the archival collection at Tiffany’s? 

It is so hard to pick just one favorite piece from our collection. We have nearly 6,000 objects in the Heritage Collection, including jewelry, silver holloware, personal accessories, and works on paper. Being surrounded by so many beautiful objects makes me really appreciate the craftsmanship of some of our earliest pieces and how they’ve stood the test of time. A few of my favorites are a carved lava stone necklace from the 1850s, an emerald and pearl brooch that was once part of the French Crown Jewels purchased by Tiffany in 1887, and the Wade Family Necklace, a garland style diamond necklace from 1900 that was recently featured in Guillermo Del Toro’s film, “Frankenstein.”

You have given back to your alma mater in numerous ways over the past decade, including donating, volunteering, and attending events. How would you recommend your fellow alumni remain engaged with Lycoming? 

There is always a way to stay engaged with Lycoming even with a busy schedule. I always love getting the chance to attend an alumni event. It is a fantastic and fun way to meet new people or catch up with old friends and hear about all what’s going on campus. Of course, any time I can make it back to campus, it still feels like coming home.

 

 

In the Spotlight recognizes members of our alumni community who are doing great things that have been influenced by their time at Lycoming College. Alumni Spotlight submissions are used at the discretion of the College and may be included in the monthly eNews as space and time permit. To participate, submit an Alumni Spotlight questionnaire.