Conference Schedule

Natascha Adams is the Curator of Exhibitions at the Benton County Historical Society in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where she develops exhibitions and community partnerships that connect local history to contemporary life. With a background in museum studies, archaeology, and community engagement, she believes museums can be more than places that preserve the past; they can be welcoming spaces where communities connect, learn, and explore ideas together.

Katelynd Anderson is interim director of the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum, the first community museum in the nation, where she has worked for nearly seven years. She was recently listed as one of the Most Powerful Women in Washington by Washingtonian magazine.

Katiesha Benson is the Curator of the Sullivan County History Museum, where she explores the intersections of history, social justice, and community through her work and research. A mother and advocate for her community, she is passionate about using history to strengthen connections and build a more inclusive future for the next generation.

Natália Marques da Silva, PhD, is the director of the Homer and Dolly Hand Art Center at Stetson University, in DeLand, Florida. Johnathan, Stephen, Logan, Greg Bouchier, Malcom, Houston are Stetson students enrolled in the Community Education Project, and co-curators of the exhibit NO ONE HERE BUT US.

Juilee Decker, PhD, is Professor of Museum Studies and Director of the Museum Studies Program at Rochester Institute of Technology, where she also co-directs the Cultural Heritage Imaging Lab. Her work connects students, museums, archives, libraries, and communities through experiential learning, cultural heritage imaging, public history, and collaborative research.

Brandon Fess is Special Collections Librarian in the Local History and Genealogy Division of the Rochester Public Library, where he maintains and provides access to the library’s physical and digital archival collections. A Rochester native, he holds a master’s degree in library and information science from Syracuse University and is dedicated to preserving his hometown’s cultural heritage.

Laci Gaidis is a first-year graduate student in Museum Studies at Syracuse University who aims to pursue a career in development or public programming. In the summer of 2026, Laci was an intern at the Seward House Museum in Auburn, New York. Elliott Darowski is a first-year graduate student in Museum Studies at Syracuse University who aims to pursue a career in collections management. Elliot was a tour guide at the Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Rita S. Graef works at the intersection of museums, research, and public engagement at Penn State University, where she helps connect collections, faculty expertise, and communities through collaborative programs and experiences. Passionate about the power of museums to spark curiosity and foster meaningful connections, she champions innovative approaches to research interpretation, collections stewardship, and community-centered engagement.

Thomas A. Guiler (Ph.D. Syracuse University) is the Museum Director at the Oneida Community Mansion House. A scholar of intentional and utopian communities, he has published and presented on a wide variety of intentional communities including Byrdcliffe, Roycroft, and Rose Valley in addition to extensive work on the Oneida Community.

Kenzie Hirai is a Topaz descendant, museum board member, and active member of Salt Lake City’s Japanese American community, bringing firsthand descendant perspectives and deep community connections to the interpretation and preservation of Topaz’s history.

Meg Hutchins is the Executive Director of the Topaz Museum, with more than a decade of experience in museum leadership, collections management, and interpretation, including extensive work with small museums and the communities they serve.

Jill Johnson is Collections Manager at Genesee Country Village & Museum, where she helps steward and increase access to collections associated with the museum’s historic buildings and the people who lived in them. Her work connects objects, places, and personal histories to deepen public understanding of life in the Genesee Valley.

Dr. Timothy W. Kneeland directs the Museums, Archives, & Public History Program at Nazareth University, where he prepares students for careers in museums, archives, and cultural heritage organizations. A historian, author, and public history practitioner, he has led numerous community-based oral history, exhibition, and archival initiatives and regularly presents on the role of public history in community engagement and historical interpretation.

Rae Koch is an emerging professional, having recently graduated from the University of Rhode Island with his MS in historic textiles and conservation. He currently works as an independent contractor based in Providence, Rhode Island.

Since 2015, Jeffrey Ludwig has been the Director of Education at the Seward House Museum in Auburn, NY. He holds a PhD in History and previously worked in Rochester's Office of the City Historian.

Ellen McHale, Ph.D., is Executive Director of New York Folklore and holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Folklore and Folklife from the University of Pennsylvania, with scholarship focused on immigrant and refugee inclusion, occupational folklore, and culture and the environment. A Fulbright Fellow and Fellow of the American Folklore Society, she has led numerous cultural initiatives and serves on boards supporting folk traditions, cultural heritage, and community sustainability across New York State.

Nada Odeh is a visual artist, curator, museum professional, and cultural strategist, and the Founder & Director of Arabesques Art & Culture and QuartsX. She holds a B.F.A. in Visual Communication and an M.A. in Museum Studies from Syracuse University and is a recipient of the Jusoor “100 Syrian Women, 10,000 Lives” Scholarship, Robert B. Menschel Fellowship, Intercultural Leadership Institute Fellowship, and Cooperative Changemakers Fellowship. Her work spans exhibitions, community cultural programs, murals, painting, and mosaic, including a recently completed large-scale mosaic installation in Rochester, New York. Nada is on the Board of The Seward House Museum and The New York Folklore.

Elise Petersen-Deitrick is the Cultural Heritage Manager at Sandy Spring Museum, which serves as one of Maryland's eight state-designated Regional Folklife Centers. Central to her role is the cultivation of community partnerships that are truly collaborative, reciprocal, and relationship-driven.

Taylor Phillips is the Director of Education at the National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House in Rochester, NY. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in education, as well as over a decade of experience as a high school teacher of U.S. government and politics.

Alena Pirok is an Assistant Professor of Public History at SUNY Cortland where she teaches public history courses and coordinates the public history internships. Her writing ranges from pieces exploring ghostlore interpretation, to those advocating for fair and safe public history workplaces.

Alli Schell (she/her) is a former small museum professional turned museum career coach and founder of Your Museum Career Coach, LLC, where she helps museum professionals navigate their careers and advocates for more equitable and sustainable workplaces. She is co-host of the Curate Your Career podcast and a frequent advocate for workforce wellbeing, equitable hiring practices, and professional development in the museum field.

Emily Stegner is the Curator of Collections at the Oneida Community Mansion House. She holds an MA in Museum Studies from University College London’s Institute of Archaeology and a BA in English and Classics from Kenyon College, with special interests including collections management, museum interpretation, accessibility & disability studies.

Maria Wood (she/her) is a STEAM Educator at Lewis Latimer House in Queens, NY, and holds an MS/MA in Library & Information Science and Public History from St. John’s University. Her experience with the Intrepid Museum, National Park Service, and NYC Department of Environmental Protection Archives has shaped her passion for making history accessible, engaging, and meaningful to diverse audiences.