Who We Are
Jan Bernstein, Founder and Managing Director
Jan Bernstein, Founder and Managing Director
Jan Bernstein, Founder and Managing Director
Denver, Colorado Office
In the 1980s, our founder, Jan Bernstein, helped lay the groundwork for the repatriation of thousands of Native American individuals and cultural items under the control of the State of California. Jan recognized that this was human rights work and found her calling. In 1988, she worked at the Brooklyn Children’s Mu
Denver, Colorado Office
In the 1980s, our founder, Jan Bernstein, helped lay the groundwork for the repatriation of thousands of Native American individuals and cultural items under the control of the State of California. Jan recognized that this was human rights work and found her calling. In 1988, she worked at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, where Jan databased the museum’s wide-ranging natural History and ethnographic collections, working alongside subject matter experts in geology, biology, gemology, and ethnography. Jan helped prepare Colorado museums to comply with NAGPRA. She then served as the NAGPRA coordinator and collections manager for the University of Denver Museum of Anthropology and as adjunct faculty in the University’s Museum Studies program.
In 2003, Jan founded Bernstein & Associates NAGPRA Consultants to facilitate respectful repatriation through meaningful consultation. Still, to this day, she feels honored and humbled to do this work.
Jan holds a B.A. in Art History and Studio Art an M.S. in Museum and Field Studies.
Jane Richardson, Associate
Jan Bernstein, Founder and Managing Director
Jan Bernstein, Founder and Managing Director
Washington State Office
Since joining Bernstein & Associates in 2019, Jane has facilitated the repatriation of thousands of ancestors and funerary objects. She is on the National Preservation Institute faculty and has developed on-demand trainings for the National NAGPRA Program. Jane has worked with archaeology and ethnographic collection
Washington State Office
Since joining Bernstein & Associates in 2019, Jane has facilitated the repatriation of thousands of ancestors and funerary objects. She is on the National Preservation Institute faculty and has developed on-demand trainings for the National NAGPRA Program. Jane has worked with archaeology and ethnographic collections in numerous museum settings, whose institutional philosophies incorporate the perspectives of Indigenous peoples. She has also worked with multiple institutions and federal agencies in preparing their collections for NAGPRA compliance.
Jane holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Florida Atlantic University and an M.S. in Museum and Field Studies from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Chelsey Schrock, Associate
Jan Bernstein, Founder and Managing Director
Chelsey Schrock, Associate
Denver, Colorado Office
Chelsey joined the Bernstein & Associates team in 2022. Before joining Bernstein & Associates, she focused on conducting osteobiographies of overlooked populations using nondestructive methods. Chelsey has performed osteological examinations in archeological and forensic contexts in labs in Georgia, England, and Gre
Denver, Colorado Office
Chelsey joined the Bernstein & Associates team in 2022. Before joining Bernstein & Associates, she focused on conducting osteobiographies of overlooked populations using nondestructive methods. Chelsey has performed osteological examinations in archeological and forensic contexts in labs in Georgia, England, and Greece. As a part of our team, she applies her knowledge to identify individuals virtually and in person.
Chelsey holds a B.S. in Anthropology from Kennesaw State University and an MSc in Human Osteology and Funerary Archeology from the University of Sheffield.
Jori Hurst, Associate
Jan Bernstein, Founder and Managing Director
Chelsey Schrock, Associate
Washington State Office
Since joining Bernstein & Associates in 2022, Jori has specialized in investigating complex collection histories and reuniting split and shared collections. With a background in archaeology and osteology, she began her career working in cultural resource management in the Pacific Northwest. Later, she worked at the
Washington State Office
Since joining Bernstein & Associates in 2022, Jori has specialized in investigating complex collection histories and reuniting split and shared collections. With a background in archaeology and osteology, she began her career working in cultural resource management in the Pacific Northwest. Later, she worked at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle as a Collections/NAGPRA Assistant and Public Outreach Coordinator. Jori has six years of experience caring for ancestral remains and belongings in the field and museum collections. Her passion for repatriation and practicing decolonization has always been at the forefront of her work.
Jori holds a B.A. in Anthropology with a concentration in Archaeology from Western Washington University.
Jackie Veninger-Robert, Associate
Jackie Veninger-Robert, Associate
Jackie Veninger-Robert, Associate
Connecticut Office
As a NAGPRA practitioner and archaeologist, Jackie has been committed to community-informed research and social justice since the foundation of her career.
Before joining Bernstein & Associates, Jackie worked in heritage management for tribal governments, museums, academia, and federal agencies, where she gained conside
Connecticut Office
As a NAGPRA practitioner and archaeologist, Jackie has been committed to community-informed research and social justice since the foundation of her career.
Before joining Bernstein & Associates, Jackie worked in heritage management for tribal governments, museums, academia, and federal agencies, where she gained considerable social justice and heritage stewardship expertise in diverse roles, including NAGPRA coordinator, collections manager, researcher, and educator.
Jackie received her PhD in archaeology from the University of Exeter (UK), focusing on contested landscapes, conflict and heritage of historically marginalized populations. She also has considerable background in archaeological ethics and has taught courses on the decolonization of museum anthropology and cultural heritage law.
Baylee Willford, Associate
Jackie Veninger-Robert, Associate
Jackie Veninger-Robert, Associate
Colorado Office
Before joining Bernstein & Associates, Baylee worked in collections and project management for local government, museums, and universities, earning experience caring for art, archaeology, paleontology, and historical collections. Currently, she also serves as collections manager of the University Art Collections at the Univ
Colorado Office
Before joining Bernstein & Associates, Baylee worked in collections and project management for local government, museums, and universities, earning experience caring for art, archaeology, paleontology, and historical collections. Currently, she also serves as collections manager of the University Art Collections at the University of Denver. Working closely with staff, she oversees all intake processing, surveys, rehousing, conservation, and preservation efforts.
Baylee holds an M.S. in Museum and Field Studies and a B.A. in Art History and Art Practices from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Her graduate research focused on engaging underserved communities through critical race theory and Indigenous decolonizing methodologies in museums.
Penske McCormack, Associate
Jackie Veninger-Robert, Associate
Penske McCormack, Associate
Rhode Island Office
Penske has worked in museums since 2015. They gained their first experience in registration and collections management at the George Museum of Art, and they also gained experience in conservation through internships.
Penske entered graduate school intending to study NAGPRA and the Indigenization of collections managemen
Rhode Island Office
Penske has worked in museums since 2015. They gained their first experience in registration and collections management at the George Museum of Art, and they also gained experience in conservation through internships.
Penske entered graduate school intending to study NAGPRA and the Indigenization of collections management and conservation practices, focusing on theory and practical application. They gained practical experience in Indigenous Collections Care and NAGPRA work through internships at the University of Denver Museum of Anthropology, the Totem Heritage Center in Ketchikan, Alaska, and the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Penske most recently was the inaugural NAGPRA Collections Fellow at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where they handled NAGPRA compliance for a collection spanning across Turtle Island, including integrating the new regulations in January 2024.
Penske prioritizes deference to Indigenous sovereignty and the interconnectedness of NAGPRA implementation with other decolonization and Indigenization work in their work.
Penske holds an AB in Art History from the University of Georgia and an M.A. in Anthropology, Museum and Heritage Studies from the University of Denver.
Emma Dixon
Jackie Veninger-Robert, Associate
Penske McCormack, Associate
Emma specializes in strengthening tribal engagement to support tribal sovereignty and self-determination within museums and cultural institutions. She has extensive experience in tribal relations, federal-tribal partnerships, and policy development.
Before joining Bernstein & Associates in 2025, Emma worked for the National Museum of Amer
Emma specializes in strengthening tribal engagement to support tribal sovereignty and self-determination within museums and cultural institutions. She has extensive experience in tribal relations, federal-tribal partnerships, and policy development.
Before joining Bernstein & Associates in 2025, Emma worked for the National Museum of American Indian (NMAI), developing tribal partnerships, enhancing institutional policy and procedure, and facilitating community-driven collections care initiatives. She also served as a Tribal Liaison at the National Park Service, supporting collaborations between Tribes and federal agencies.
Emma holds a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a M.S. in Museum and Field Studies from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
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Rebecca Andruszka, Executive Assistant
Rebecca Andruszka, Executive Assistant
Rebecca Andruszka, Executive Assistant
Colorado Office
Since 2005, Rebecca has been working with nonprofits and mission-based organizations on fundraising and operations. She joined Bernstein & Associates in 2019 as our administrative support. She helps plan and schedule consultations and meetings and serves a critical role in coordinating client communication with Tribes and N
Colorado Office
Since 2005, Rebecca has been working with nonprofits and mission-based organizations on fundraising and operations. She joined Bernstein & Associates in 2019 as our administrative support. She helps plan and schedule consultations and meetings and serves a critical role in coordinating client communication with Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations.
Rebecca is also the founder of Do Better Consulting.
Community Service
Rebecca Andruszka, Executive Assistant
Rebecca Andruszka, Executive Assistant
We waive some or all of our fees when Tribes and museums can not afford our services. In 2023, we provided 350 hours of free services, and in 2022, we provided 340 hours of free services.
We also share our experience and expertise by serving on committees, participating in conferences, and providing free or low-cost training through profe
We waive some or all of our fees when Tribes and museums can not afford our services. In 2023, we provided 350 hours of free services, and in 2022, we provided 340 hours of free services.
We also share our experience and expertise by serving on committees, participating in conferences, and providing free or low-cost training through professional organizations.
We also sponsor events, including the annual repatriation conference organized by the Association on American Indian Affairs.