Staff and Board

Staff

Catherine Gilbert
Executive Director
director@museumwise.org

Ms. Gilbert has her Masters of Arts in Museum Education from Tufts University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Arts/Art History. Her past work experience includes positions as the Coordinator of Outreach at the Miami Children’s Museum, Manager of Statewide Programs and History Day Coordinator at the New York State Historical Association, and Visitor Services Manager at Old South Meeting House. She has a balance of skills in management, education, and front-line museum experience.

In accepting the position, Ms. Gilbert stated, “Throughout my career, my goal has been to stimulate a desire to learn by connecting visitors to the cultural and historic resources available within their community. This goal aligns with the mission of Museumwise.”

Stephanie Lehner Rowe
Program Coordinator
stephanie@museumwise.org

Stephanie Lehner Rowe accepted the position of Program Coordinator at Museumwise in May 2008 after earning her MA in History Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program, she began as an Intern at Museumwise in the summer of 2007. As Program Coordinator, Stephanie is responsible for developing, implementing and promoting programs and activities at Museumwise, including serving as the Regional Archivist for the South Central Region of the Documentary Heritage Program.

She received a B.A. in Social Studies from Ithaca College in 2006—during her time in Ithaca, Stephanie worked in the education department at The History Center in Tompkins County.

Board Members

The Board of Directors governs and manages the organization and makes decisions on policy management. Board members are selected for their interest in, concern for, and personal commitment to participate effectively in fulfilling their responsibilities for managing a public trust and meeting the mission of the organization.

Michele Phillips — Chair
Paper Conservator
Peebles Island Resource Center, Waterford

After degrees in fine art, art history and chemistry, Ms. Phillips pursued her Master’s in Art Conservation at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. In 2001, following a term as Assistant Conservator at the New York Public Library, Michele turned her career to private conservation in Upstate New York. Most recently she has been appointed paper conservator at Peebles Island Resource Center (PIRC) headquarters for the Bureau of Historic Sites administered by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP).

As a conservator of paper & photographic materials she specializes in the preservation and treatment of prints, drawings, maps, documents, print & cased photographs, and plate & film negatives with special emphasis on mold remediation. Michele is an active member of the Canadian Association of Conservation and holds the distinction of Professional Associate in the American Association for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.

The wealth and diversity of the collections in Upstate New York, and the dedication of those charged with their care make her work personally rewarding and professionally gratifying: “I am continually impressed with the sensitivity and commitment of the people I encounter taking care of our heritage, and I am thrilled to be able to play a role in those efforts.”

Robert K. Cassetti — Vice Chair
Senior Director, Creative Services & Marketing
Corning Museum of Glass, Corning

Rob Cassetti joined The Corning Museum of Glass in 1999 as Manager of Education and Creative Services. He became a Director of the Museum in 2001, responsible for Marketing and Guest Services. He also serves as the Museum’s creative director. Cassetti has worked to make the Museum and its activities more engaging and accessible to a wide variety of audiences. He has developed new public programs, including the Museum’s innovative 2300° program, led exhibition and interpretive planning and directed the development of numerous marketing initiatives.

Prior to joining the Museum, Mr. Cassetti worked for Corning Incorporated from 1993-1999 to help plan the expansion of The Corning Museum of Glass. He led an exhibit development team composed of artists, designers, curators and scientists to plan the Museum’s new Glass Innovation Center. This award-winning exhibit, designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates, New York, explores the elusive process of invention and celebrates breakthrough moments in glass history. He also led the design and development of the Museum’s innovative hot glass demonstrations.

Lenora Henson — Treasurer
Curator
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, Buffalo

Lenora holds a Bachelor’s degree in history from SUNY Geneseo as well as a Master’s degree from the University of New Hampshire. She became interested in public history while interning at the Livingston County (NY) Historian’s Office as an undergraduate. As a graduate student, she interned at Strawberry Banke Museum (Portsmouth, NY) before being hired as a tour guide/interpreter for the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (SPNEA, now called Historic New England). Lenora’s first full-time museum job was with the Wright Museum (Wolfboro, NH), where she served as the Collections Administrator. In December of 1999, Lenora moved to Buffalo to become the Curator at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site (TR Site), which enables her to combine her love of house museums with traditional gallery opportunities.

Erin Crissman Richardson–Secretary
Director of Collections
The Fenimore Art Museum/NYSHA and The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown

Erin Richardson is a museum curator specializing in interpretation and holistic collections management practices.  She holds a BA in American Studies from SUNY Geneseo and an MA in History Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program.  Her work is informed by curatorial positions at Historic Cherry Hill, Albany, NY, Stepping Stones Foundation, Katonah, NY, in addition to consulting work and her current position as curator at The Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown.  Her master’s thesis, Solomon Van Rensselaer:  “A Man of No Business Whatsoever,” examines elites after the American Revolution, with an eye to alternative interpretation of changes faced by colonial families in a shifting social structure.

Sally Treanor — Executive Committee Member at Large
Management and Long Range Planning Consultant
Buffalo

Sally Treanor is a consultant in management and long range planning for small museums and historical societies. From 1996-2009, she was Director, Administration & Operations, of the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, responsible for supervising institution-wide daily operations. From 2003-2009, she was head of Research and Interpretation, directly supervising museum education, exhibits, and program planning and implementation. Since 1976 she has been a working artist, both teaching and exhibiting transparent watercolor. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English literature.

She is currently a NYSCA Exhibit Auditor, a MANY Peer Charter Reviewer, and Upstate History Get Ready/Get Set Facilitator. She joined the Board of Upstate History, of which she is Vice Chair, in January 2007. She has also served as NYSCA/Museumwise Get Set panelist, NYCH Grants Review Consultant, and Buffalo and Erie County Arts Council CAST regrant panelist.

Dana Krueger — Executive Committee Member at Large
Registrar
Emerson Gallery at Hamilton College, Clinton

Dana L. Krueger is the Registrar for the Emerson Gallery at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. She also teaches Public Learning in Museums as an adjunct faculty member for the Graduate Program in Museum Studies at Syracuse University. Dana received her MA in Museum Studies as well as her MS in Art Education from Syracuse University. Her BA is in Studio Art from St. Lawrence University. Prior to her current positions, Dana was the Collections Manager at Madison County Historical Society, an historic Gothic-Revival house museum in Oneida, NY. She has also worked in numerous galleries and art centers in the areas of education, collections, development and more, including the Old Forge Arts Center, Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts, and the Earlville Opera House.

Christine Campeau
School Programs Manager/Educator
Adirondack Museum, Blue Mountain Lake

Christine Campeau has been with the Adirondack Museum for over fourteen years.  Advancing from an intern in the Education Department to her current position as Manager of School Programs, the aspect of her job she finds most fulfilling is the opportunity to work with diverse audiences on a variety of projects.  From showing kindergarteners how clothes were washed in the in the early 19^th century, to leading museum members on a graveyard tour to interviewing families of Adirondack miners, museum education is never dull.  Taking the road less traveled to museum professionalism, Christine is now completing a MA in Museum Education and Interpretation at Skidmore College.   

Christopher Clarke
Historian and Museum Consultant
Rochester

Christopher Clarke is an independent exhibition developer and consulting historian with more than twenty hears of experience in the museum field. He received his B.A. from Amherst College, holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in history from the University of Rochester, and has taught American history at the SUNY College at Buffalo and at Vassar College. For five years served as Director of the Ontario County Historical Society in Canandaigua, NY. From 1990-1997, he held the position of senior historian at Strong Museum in Rochester, NY. Working full time as an independent consultant since 1998, he has created interactive exhibitions, interpretive plans, and strategic plans for dozens of museums and historic sites across the Northeastern United States. His research and exhibition work has ranged over many topics in American history and culture, including environmental history, African-American history, class and material culture, nature in the context of an industrial society, world’s fairs, 10th-century illustration art, the cultural history of transportation, women’s history, art of the American West, the French and Indian War, innovation as a process that links science, technology, and the arts, and the early history of aviation.

Jennifer Haines
Museum Education Consultant

Originally from Pennsylvania, Jennifer graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor’s degree in History and a Minor in Recreation and Park Management.  She received her master’s in History Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program.  Jennifer’s museum experience includes working for six years at Historic Curtin Village, a restored iron furnace, village, and mansion in Pennsylvania.  She also worked as a consultant for Oneida Community Mansion House and for Museum Village in Florida, NY.  Since 2002, Jennifer has served as the Education Director of Seward House Museum.

Kathleen Heyworth
Head of Marketing and Public Relations
Burchfield Penney Art Center, Buffalo

Kathleen Heyworth is a communications professional with more than 15 years of experience in marketing and public relations. She has been head of marketing and public relations for the Burchfield Penney Art Center at Buffalo State College since 2003. A native Buffalonian, Kathleen earned a BA from the University at Buffalo. For more than 12 years, she lived outside of the United States- in England, Australia, and Canada, before moving back to Buffalo. In 2003, she completed an MBA in public relations and communications from Royal Roads University in Victoria, Canada. Since joining the Burchfield Penney in 2003, Kathleen won a fellowship from the Public Relations and Marking Committee of the American Association of Museums (2007), chaired the marketing committee for Beyond/In WNY 2007, a campaign which earned the award for “Best Cultural Tourism” from I Love NY (2008) and was recognized by the Public Relations Society of America (Buffalo Niagara Chapter) for the opening of the new Burchfield Penney.

Tracy Kay
Executive Director
Westchester Children’s Museum, White Plains

Tracy Kay is the Executive Director of the Westchester Children’s Museum, an emerging facility to be located in the National Historic Landmark bathhouses at Rye Playland in Westchester County, NY.  Prior to his current post, Tracy was Deputy Commissioner for the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums, directing the operation of the County’s extensive museum system and coordinating its partnerships with other museum institutions.

Tracy is a graduate of St. Lawrence University and received his master’s degree from Yale University.  He began his museum career as Director of the Rye Nature Center and later was Executive Director of the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education in Philadelphia, PA.  He has served on the adjunct faculties at Swarthmore College and Arcadia and Temple Universities.  He also serves as a field reviewer for the American Association of Museums and as a grant panelist for the Institute of Museum and Library Services

Cheryl Kramer
Director
Handwerker Gallery at Ithaca College, Ithaca

Cheryl Kramer received her M.A. in Art History and a Certificate in Museum Studies from Rutgers University and her Ph.D. in Art History from the University of St. Andrews. She is currently the director of the Handwerker Gallery and an associate professor in art history at Ithaca College, where she teaches contemporary art and museum studies.  Cheryl is committed to the educational role of museums and galleries, and to mentoring future museum professionals.  To this end, she is currently working with colleagues to develop an undergraduate concentration in museum studies at Ithaca College.

Hillarie Logan-Dechene
Director of Philanthropy
The Wild Center, Tupper Lake

Hillarie Logan-Dechene has made her career working in the not-for-profit sector and primarily in museums. She is the Director of Philanthropy at The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, New York.  In this position she is responsible for all membership and development activities for the young vibrant science museum.  Logan-Dechene has spent her entire professional career strengthening non-profit and educational institutions in the North Country.

Kenneth Shefsiek
Executive Director
Geneva Historical Society, Geneva

Ken joined the Geneva Historical Society as executive director in 2006, following the completion of his coursework for the Ph.D. in American History at the University of Georgia. He is currently working on his dissertation, currently entitled “Stone House Days: Constructing the Past in the Hudson Valley.” Previously Ken served as Curator of Education at the Huguenot Historical Society, and he holds a master’s degree in heritage preservation from Georgia State University. Additionally, he received degrees in music from Ithaca College and New England Conservatory.

Mari Shopsis
Development Coordinator
Capital District Community Gardens, Troy

Mari Shopsis was most recently the Director of Education for the Rensselaer County Historical Society, where she secured and served as lead administrator for a major IMLS grant allowing the Society to re-build its school education programs. At RCHS she also oversaw the development of public programs and marketing initiatives which helped the Society bring in new audiences and members.

She has previously served as Interim Director of Education at The History Center in Tompkins County and the Manager of School and Public Programs at the Everson Museum of Art. Mari has a MS.Ed from the Leadership in Museum Education Program at Bank Street College of Education and is committed to making museums meaningful and accessible to new audiences.

Lauren Sodano
Collections Manager
The Strong, Rochester

Lauren Sodano is collections manager at The Strong, home of the National Museum of Play, where she coordinates acquisitions and loans as well as writing for Play Stuff Blog. Prior to joining The Strong’s staff in 2008, Lauren earned master’s degrees in Museum Studies and Art History from Syracuse University and completed a graduate internship at Utica’s Munson-Williams Proctor Arts Institute. As an undergraduate at Syracuse, she interned for the Philadelphia Museum of Art and studied photojournalism in London. She has taught courses in modern and American art history at Syracuse University and the University of Rochester.

Lauren also serves as social media coordinator for the Ephemera Society of America, maintaining the Society’s Facebook and Twitter presence and producing annual videos. She believes institutions can improve and inspire when they encourage open dialog with their audiences

Michael D. Somple
Registrar and Exhibition Manager
Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, Utica

Michael has held positions at the Picker Art Gallery at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York; the Columbus Museum of Art in Columbus, Ohio; the Emerson Gallery at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York; the Yale Center for British Art in New Haven, Connecticut; the Museum of Science and Technology in Syracuse, New York; and the Dayton Art Institute in Dayton, Ohio.

Somple, a member of the American Association of Museums since 2000, holds a bachelor's degree in art history and communications from the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, and received a master's degree in museum studies from Syracuse University.

Kristin A. Swain
Executive Director, Rockwell Museum of Western Art
President, Corning Incorporated Foundation, Corning

Ms. Swain was with the Rockwell Museum (1976-1983) in Corning, New York where she was responsible for the administration of the Museum collections.  In 1985 she became a member of the Board of Trustees of the Rockwell Museum and served as President from 1998 – 2002.   She assumed the position of Executive Director in July 2002.

Swain joined the Corning Incorporated Foundation as Program Manager in 1984.  In 1986, she became Executive Director, and was named Foundation President and Director of Corporate Contributions and Memberships in 1990.  She continues to hold this position.

Affiliations with the not-for-profit community have included regional health and human service agencies, as well as regional and state-wide visual and performing arts organizations.  Current affiliations with non-profit organizations include:  the Board of Trustees of the Market Street Restoration Agency and the Museums West Consortium.  Ms. Swain is a director of the Elmira Savings Bank, and serves on the Contributions Council of The Conference Board.

Ms. Swain has a BA in the History of Art from Sweet Briar College.  She and her husband, Charles, have two daughters.