Skulls Staff Spotlight: Behind the Bones with Kathryne

What is your primary role at Skulls Unlimited or SKELETONS: Museum of Osteology?

I am an Education Coordinator [for the museum], which encompasses a lot of responsibilities! I teach classes, prepare field trips, develop curriculum, do animal identification and exhibit work!

What is the coolest thing about your job?

The coolest part of my job is getting to expose kids to new and exciting materials that spark interest in STEM fields. I love working in a discovery-based education position.

Do you have a bone collection? If so, name your favorite or rarest specimen.

Yes! I have a male hammerhead bat! His name is Phillip or Flip for short.

What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time?

I’m a video game completionist, which means I have to “100%” the game. It’s a problem.

What is your favorite specimen in the museum(s) or your favorite thing we sell in the Gift Shop?

My favorite animal is a hyena – so probably those guys. One of our hyenas on display actually has evidence of a pretty gnarly tooth infection.

What is your favorite part of each workday?

As much as I love working with kids, the best part of my day is developing new classes and curriculum. Right now I’m working on a class for Oklahoma Search and Rescue to help them identify human bone more quickly.

Can you play any instruments?

I play the violin. 

Choose a movie title for the story of your life (choose an existing title or make up your own).

Kathryne Thorne and the Temple of Bones.

Kathryne's colleagues say...

"She's so funny!"

"I love how smart she is. It makes things at work exciting. Kathryne's background in English and Humanities gives her such a practical and valuable viewpoint and it makes the Education department as a whole more well-rounded."

"She's so great with teenagers. Her playful sarcasm reads very well with them!"