Ani Arzoomanian and Jennifer Witt

Experienced Smithsonian Journeys Youth Directors, Ani Arzoomanian & Jennifer Witt will lead groups of similarly aged children and young adults on educational and recreational activities developed to enhance their appreciation of the sites visited. They look forward to welcoming you and your young traveling companions to the trip!

Ani Arzoomanian is a fourth grade teacher in Arlington, Virginia. She received her Master's in Education from the University of Rhode Island, from where she also holds a Bachelor's degree in International Business. She enjoys hiking, traveling, and is actively involved in charity work. Recently, she spent time in Uganda supporting schools in rural areas, and continues to raise awareness about the importance of education. 

Jennifer Witt is a fourth grade teacher in Arlington, Virginia. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Virginia Tech and a M.Ed. from George Mason. As a fourth grade teacher, she loves working with kids and guiding them to discover new things. She has lived in the DC area her whole life and enjoys visiting the Smithsonian museums on the weekends. She also enjoys traveling to new places, previously traveling to Africa to work with schools in rural Uganda. She is looking forward to meeting you and your young travel companions on the Rhine!

Carol Reynolds

Dr. Carol Reynolds weaves history, humor, and high energy into everything she does. A musicologist, pianist, and organist, she specializes in Russian, East European, and German cultural history. Carol was a professor of music history for more than 20 years at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. In addition to music, she is well versed in the history and fine arts of western Europe and Russia. Before becoming a professor, she studied at the Leningrad Conservatory and lived in West Germany.

Dr. Reynolds is a frequent Smithsonian Journeys Expert and has led tours through Russia, the Baltic States, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Croatia. She is fluent in Russian and German.  

A staunch advocate of Arts Education at every stage of life, she works with organizations like The Dallas Symphony, Van Cliburn Concerts, Kimball Museum, Opera America, and Smithsonian Associates. Carol has turned her attention to public speaking and the creation of online arts curricula and educational programs for adult audiences and secondary-school students.

Under the moniker Professor Carol, she publishes courses in cultural history for adults and students, including Discovering Music: 300 Years of Interaction in Western Music, Arts, History, and Culture, Exploring America’s Artistic Heritage, Imperial Russia, and Early Sacred Music. She and her husband Hank maintain a second home in Weimar (former East Germany).