Professional Biography: Babette Cohen

Babette Cohen, ASA, AAA, has more than 30 years experience as an appraiser of antiques and decorative art, residential contents and personal property, and is accredited at the highest level by both the American Association of Appraisers and the American Society of Appraisers. She is the Senior Personal Property Appraiser for Babette Cohen Appraisals, and a partner in ICAA, a nationwide appraisal service which reviews insurance claims for damage and loss assessment.

Education.
Ms. Cohen's education includes a B.A. and M.A. from New York University in clinical psychology, post-graduate studies at Columbia University and the University of Miami, and in decorative art and art history at Endicott College and the Bemidji State University. She earned certificates in Appraisal Studies from Long Island University, and from Hofstra University, where she later returned to teach the course. Ms. Cohen stays current by attending conferences and seminars at museums and universities here and abroad, including several at Winterthur, the Victoria & Albert Museum (London) and Sotheby's.

Professional Organizations.
Ms. Cohen is an active participant in both the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) and the Appraisers Association of America (AAA). A past President of the ASA's Long Island Chapter, she currently serves the Chapter as a Board Member and Chair of the Membership Committee. She is active in ASA nationally, too, serving on its International Board of Examiners and its International Personal Property Committee. She has also been a member or co-chair of recent ASA Personal Property Conferences, of its 2003 Folk Art Seminar, and of the Joint AAA/ASA Committee for the Personal Property Advanced Seminar.

Guest Speaker and Author.
Ms. Cohen, who served on the Board of Antique Experts for Channel 21 from 1982-1992, is a frequent guest lecturer on topics including "How to select an Appraiser," "Valuing Personal Property" and "Art Antiques and Collectibles.". She has talked to a variety of organizations, ranging from the Post College Elderhostel to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. A frequent author and columnist as well, Ms. Cohen has written for the Roslyn News, ASA's monthly Newsline newsletter, and the Family Advocate magazine of the American Bar Association on topics such as "Putting a Price Tag on Antiques."

Expert Witness and Authority.
Widely recognized as an expert on the appraisal of personal property, Ms. Cohen has been qualified and appeared as an Expert Witness for the Supreme Court in Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and for the Civil Court in Nassau County. She is also a participant or member of the Technical Advisory Services for Attorneys, the American Arbitration Association, and Expert Resources, Inc. for whom she provides services for attorneys.

Public Service
A persistent advocate for the appraisal profession and for women in business, Ms. Cohen provides a strong role model with appearances as a guest appraiser for educational, religious, non-profit and charitable organizations. Her scrapbook is filled with kudos from many groups, including C. W. Post College, Hofstra University, New York University, St. Stephen's Parish (Port Washington, NY), St. Paul's Parish (Garden City, NY) and the Roslyn, NY Public Library.