NEMA acknowledges the hard-work and dedication of every museum worker in our field, whether it be part-time, full-time, contract, or businesses working with museums. We recognize the work being done by Museum Workers Speak to create The Museum Workers Relief Fund, a mutual aid fund by and for museum workers. And as they say, "Small acts of solidarity add up to a movement!"
We know the global pandemic has caused much uncertainty and the coming months will be challenging for museum workers, but NEMA will continue to be here to support you and the museum field of our future. That is why NEMA is offering our individual members the option of a 3-month membership deferment period to any individual member for whom membership is a hardship right now. If you are recently laid off, furloughed, or an Independent Museum Consultant then you can apply for the reduced membership. If you have any questions please contact our Manager of Membership and Development, Scarlett Hoey (scarlett.hoey@nemanet.org).
Lyle Cairdeas appointed director of collections and exhibits.
Betty Stolpen Weiner appointed director of development.
Sabina Ion appointed content and marketing manager
Emma Scheinmann appointed program assistant.
Jason Sohigian appointed executive director.
Michael MacMahon appointed education and programs manager.
Miranda Aisling appointed education manager.
Stacey Csaplar as visitor services representative.
Anastasia Dennehy appointed visitor services representative.
Karla Kaneb appointed collections move coordinator.
Rebecca Robison appointed executive assistant.
Kathleen (Kate) Cooke Ryan appointed chief philanthropy officer.
Kate Viens appointed Director of Education.
Lauren Szumita appointed curator.
Brenda Tindal appointed executive director.
Evelyn Ansel appointed museum curator.
Sofia Thornblad appointed executive director.
Nicole Hogerty appointed maritime maintenance coordinator.
Meaghan Carroll-Rateau appointed digital media manager and education coordinator.
Devon Smith appointed maritime education coordinator.
Karen Pelletier, MHS Chief Operating Officer, will retire in July as she has long-planned.
Jamie Rice promoted to MHS Deputy Director.
Dr. Samaa Abdurraqib appointed associate director.
Executive Director Marcos Stafne will step down from his current role at the end of April. He has accepted a position with the Wildlife Conservation Society as their Director of Learning Experiences, Zoos & Aquarium.
Miranda Dale promoted to manager of visitor operations.
Dr. Jade Luiz appointed collections manager.
Kelli Yakabu appointed assistant archivist.
Briann G. Greenfield, Executive Director of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, appointed director of NEH’s Division of Preservation and Access.
Stephanie Abrams appointed executive director. Debbie Reed, executive director, is retiring after more than 31 years of service.
Barbara Callahan appointed Public Engagement Manager.
Katelyn Legacy appointed curator and archivist.
Lynda Roscoe Hartigan appointed the Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo Executive Director and CEO. Hartigan will assume her role on August 23, 2021.
Dan Lipcan promoted to the Ann C. Pingree Director of PEM’s Phillips Library.
Executive Director J. Paul Loether will retire on June 25, 2021, capping a 43-year career in historic preservation. In his three years of leadership at the Commission.
Tucker Foltz appointed education programs manager.
Gannit Ankori appointed Henry and Lois Foster Director and Chief Curator.
Jill Conley appointed manager of collections and interpretation.
Lisa Evans appointed interim executive director.
Jessica May appointed managing director of art and exhibitions and artistic director of deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum.
Gary Foreman, Assistant Manager of Interpretation and Visitor Services has retired after 23 years.
Elisabeth Fairman, Chief Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts, retired on January 30, 2021, concluding a career that spans nearly four decades.
The Framingham Historical Society is sad to report that Martha Whiting Davidson, our volunteer Librarian and Registrar for 20 years, died on March 14. Martha came out to Framingham from Belmont every Tuesday to work in our library at the Academy building. She was a retired librarian and she very quietly organized our library and special collections along with other jobs like transcribing diaries, processing collections, and helping create a print newsletter. Martha was great to work with and had a wry sense of humor. Martha retired from the FHC in 2019.
Barbara J. Erickson, chief executive of Trustees of Reservations, has died after a long struggle with a rare form of appendix cancer, the Boston nonprofit announced in January. Erickson was the fourth leader, and the first woman, to helm the historic land conservation nonprofit. Erickson oversaw a period of rapid growth at the preservation- and conservation-focused nonprofit, including a $26.4 million fund-raising campaign to revitalize properties and bolster staffing. During her tenure the Trustees added nine new properties, bringing its portfolio to 120 sites. Annual visits doubled to 2 million, revenue more than doubled to $50.4 million, and the endowment reached $180 million on Erickson’s watch. Before taking the top job at the Trustees, Erickson was a senior executive at Save the Children, where she was responsible for fund-raising. Prior to that, she served as chief development officer of Boston-based Earthwatch Institute.
Rev. Richard A. Kellaway of Dorchester, passed away peacefully after a short illness on March 21, 2021 at the age of 86. His passion for the arts and art collection led to Richard becoming the founding president of the New Bedford Art Museum in 1995. He was also the president of the Tryworks Collection of New Bedford and Dorchester. He served as the Vice President of the Friends of Haffenreffer Museum of Bristol, Rhode Island from 1995 to 2000.
The Board of Trustees of the Museum of Russian Icons is deeply saddened to announce the death of founder Gordon B. Lankton. After opening a branch of his plastics manufacturing company in Moscow in 1992, he came to appreciate Russian culture, particularly the icon, the emblematic sacred art form stemming from the Byzantine traditions of the Russian Orthodox Christian faith. Gordon founded the Museum of Russian Icons in 2006. From his early days as a Boy Scout collecting pennies, Gordon was a studious and passionate collector. Whether it was icons, African sculpture, World War I and II posters, or die-cast model cars, Gordon tirelessly pursued not only the objects, but also information about their origins and the artists who created them.
The Institute for American Indian Studies mourns the passing of Trudie Lamb Richmond, former Education and Program Director at our museum. Trudie was a culture keeper, educator, anthropologist, and storyteller. Trudie dedicated decades of her life to educating others, fighting for the civil rights of Native people and the preservation of history. As a Schaghticoke Elder, she has been a mentor and role model to many young Native people encouraging them to take pride in themselves and learn more about their culture and heritage. Her enduring legacy and playful spirit will live on in the lives of the countless people she impacted. Trudie will always hold a special place in our hearts as a much-honored IAIS museum elder and her voice will continue to carry throughout our museum.
From 2007-9, Trudie served on the NEMA Board as the Connecticut State Representative. In 2010, she retired from the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center after 15 years as Director of Public Programs.
