Signature City New York

Richard Turnbull is an assistant professor in the History of Art Department at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and lectures regularly at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. He has published numerous articles on topics from the challenges of being an adjunct professor to the photography of Luke Smalley, and has forthcoming articles on Islamic art and 70s pop music and culture. Richard earned his Ph.D. in art history from the Institute of Fine Arts.

As a National Park Service Guide at Ellis Island, Tom Bernardin became an avid collector of Statue of Liberty memorabilia — and his association with Ellis Island inspired him to write "The Ellis Island Immigrant Cookbook: The Story of Our Past Told Through the Recipes and Reminiscences of our Immigrant Ancestors." He has made guest appearances on National Public Radio, the TV Food Network, Arts and Entertainment and the History Channel.

Angela Christensen is a licensed New York City excursion leader who has extensive experience in event planning and hospitality. She worked with the Wildlife Conservation Society managing events in the Bronx Zoo, Central Park, Prospect Park, the Queens Zoo and the New York Aquarium. Now, she loves showing off her city with lifelong learners from around the world!

A New York City resident for more than 25 years, Karl Baudendistel loves sharing his knowledge of the city with visitors from around the world. Having spent 20 years overseeing ‘the business of show business’ for numerous Broadway and touring productions, chances are he’s been to a city near you. Karl is a member of The Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers, is a trained sommelier and was educated at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Whitney Thompson received a B.A. with honors in art history from the University of Michigan, and earned a certificate in American studies and a Ph.D. in art history from The Graduate Center, CUNY. She has conducted research in Germany and as a Capitol Historical Society fellow. Whitney has also been awarded other fellowships and the Andrew W. Mellon Curatorial Internship in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s American Wing. She currently teaches American art history as an adjunct professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY.