Our Staff
Directory
- Executive Office
- Center for the Future of Museums
- Content
- Development
- Excellence Programs
- Finance and Administration
- Government Relations & Advocacy
- Human Resources
- Inclusion
- Information Technology and Media
- Marketing and Communications
- Membership
- Meetings and Events
Executive Office
Staff is available for consultation and speaking engagements on a select basis.
Laura Lott
President and CEO
A results-oriented, entrepreneurial, strategic leader with a track record of leading transformative change in nonprofit organizations, Laura served as the Alliance’s chief operating officer for five years before becoming the chief executive officer in 2015. Laura led the 2012 re-launch of the Alliance, including rebranding the organization and redesigning its membership and excellence programs – leading to a 70% growth in membership and the organization’s first five profitable years in a decade. More recently, Laura led the development of the Alliance’s current strategic plan which emphasizes topics that Alliance members strongly believe are vital to the future viability, relevance and sustainability of museums: diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion in all aspects of museums’ programs and structure; changing business models for financial sustainability; and museums’ growing role in the P-12 education ecosystem. Laura is also a passionate advocate for strong and engaged boards, speaking to numerous museum boards each year.
Prior to joining AAM, Laura served as chief financial officer and chief operating officer of The JASON Project, an international nonprofit education program at the National Geographic Society with a mission to inspire and motivate students to learn science through great explorers. In the late 90s, Laura helped launch the MarcoPolo: Internet Content for the Classroom program at the former MCI Foundation and managed its partnerships with 50 state departments of education, as well as MCI’s community relations programs.
After studying in Tokyo, Japan during high school and graduating from American University in Washington, D.C., Laura gained public accounting experience at PricewaterhouseCoopers, with a focus on nonprofit clients. Laura is a Virginia-licensed CPA and a private pilot. She resides in Northern Virginia with her husband and daughter.
Brooke Leonard
Chief of Staff
(202) 289-9139
As chief of staff, Brooke facilitates the execution of the American Alliance of Museums’ strategic priorities, ensures organizational alignment around the strategic plan, and oversees board relations and key partnerships. She joined AAM in 2010 to manage a U.S. Department of State cultural exchange program before serving as director of foundation and corporate relations, where she executed AAM’s fundraising strategy and funder relations. Previously, Brooke worked in Washington, DC, and Moscow, Russia, for an international education nonprofit and later as the assistant director of a DC-based foreign policy institute. Brooke is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and holds a Master’s Degree from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service.
Kaitlyn Murphy
Executive Assistant
(202) 218-7676
Center for the Future of Museums
Elizabeth Merritt
Vice President, Strategic Foresight & Founding Director, Center for the Future of Museums
(202) 218-7661
Elizabeth is AAM’s vice president for strategic foresight, and founding director of the Center for the Future of Museums—a think-tank and research & development lab for the museum field. She is the author of the Alliance’s annual TrendsWatch report, and writes and speaks prolifically on the trends shaping the future of nonprofit organizations. (M.A. Duke University, B.S. Yale University, Museum Management Institute).
Content
Megan Lantz
Director of Content and Community Engagement
(202) 218-7663
Megan is responsible for content and community engagement at the Alliance, including oversight of AAM’s strategy for digital and print publishing and digital media. Since joining the Alliance in 2015, she also has directed key global and education-related initiatives. Her professional experience has spanned the federal government and non-profit sectors and has included (and at times blended) projects related to international development, public diplomacy, arts education, youth leadership, and story-telling through public radio. She is an avid traveler and enjoys playing in a quartet in her spare time. Megan holds a master’s degree in education from Harvard University and a B.A. in international relations from the University of Virginia.
Dean Phelus
Senior Director, Leadership Programs & Special Events
(202) 218-7674
Dean has oversight for editorial content for Museum magazine, book publishing, leadership programs and the Conference of the Americas. He has been at the Alliance for over two decades where he previously provided supervision for the meetings and professional development department and international programs. He enjoys travel, documentary films, and great stories.
Cecelia Walls
Content & Editorial Strategist
(202) 218-7713
Cecelia oversees digital content on the Alliance blogs and website. She started her career as a registrar in museums and came to the Alliance as an accreditation coordinator in 2008. Cecelia holds an M.A. in museum studies from the University of Leicester and a B.A. in historic preservation from Mary Washington University. Her favorite animal is a Giant Panda and she enjoys a good ghost story.
Joseph O’Neill
Content Coordinator
(202) 218-7685
Joseph is responsible for editing and publishing online content, and supporting the department’s administrative needs. He has a professional background in communications and digital publishing, both in and out of the museum field, and an academic background in art history and communication studies.
Development
Vice President, Development
(202) 218-7684
As AAM’s vice president of development, Affleck leads all aspects of the Alliance’s fundraising programs and activities with the primary goal of building a culture of philanthropy in support of the Alliance’s 2016-2020 strategic plan. Affleck has spent over 20 years working for higher education institutions and at other nonprofit organizations like the College Board and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. In the higher education space, Affleck has served as either vice president or vice chancellor of institutional advancement at private and public and colleges & universities. He has won several awards for excellence in fundraising from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Affleck has authored several articles and in 2008, he wrote and published a book “YES YOU CAN—Finish High School and Go to College.” He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Tuskegee University, a master’s degree in administration & supervision of higher education from Auburn University, a juris doctor degree from the American University-Washington College of Law, and a certificate from the Institute for Educational Management at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.
Director, Advancement
(202) 218-7702
Eileen cultivates and stewards individual donors and foundations and develops strategic corporate sponsorships that support activities and strategic initiatives that benefit the museum field. Eileen started her career on Capitol Hill, worked at the Kennedy Center and came to the Alliance in 2001. Her favorite activity outside of work is reading books.
Shelagh Grimshaw
Development Director
(202) 218-7695
Shelagh advances the Alliance’s fundraising and donor relations and oversees Annual Meeting sponsorships, Annual Fund, and other priority projects. Shelagh came to the Alliance in 2017 from an independent school where she served as director of annual giving, and previously she was a membership marketing and fundraising consultant for museums and cultural institutions for 15 years.
Evlyn Baker
Development Manager
(202) 289-9117
As AAM’s development manager, Evlyn carries out project and grant management, technical and process support, and assists in all development initiatives. She began working at AAM in 2016. Prior to joining AAM in 2016, she was the director of operations and director of member services at the Arts & Health Alliance, and most recently a membership associate at The Phillips Collection. She currently serves as Chair of the Dance Metro DC board, the regional service organization for the professional field of dance. Evlyn holds an M.A. in museum studies from JHU and a B.A. in graphic design and art history from UMBC.
Excellence Programs
Senior Director of Standards & Excellence
(202) 218-7712
Julie provides leadership and oversight of AAM’s Continuum of Excellence including the Accreditation and Museum Assessment Programs, and other standards and ethics initiatives of the Alliance. She has been involved with accreditation and efforts to nurture institutional excellence throughout her 20 + year tenure at AAM, providing her with insight into the practices, issues, and challenges faced by museums and non-profits of many types and sizes.
Accreditation Program Officer
(202) 289-9106
Danyelle joined AAM in 2014, first as a Program Officer for the Museum Assessment Program. She also manages our volunteer team of Peer Reviewers and works with AAM’s other Excellence programs. Prior to coming to AAM Danyelle worked at Winterthur Museum, the Delaware Historical Society, the Jewish Museum of Maryland, the Baltimore Museum of Industry and the Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House. She has a B.A. in History from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and an M.A. in Museum Studies from Johns Hopkins University. Danyelle is also the Vice-Chair for the Registrar’s Committee for MAAM.
Museum Assessment Program Officer
(202) 218-7664
Brianne joined AAM in 2018 as Member Services Manager, working directly with AAM’s members to ensure seamless customer service. She now works with museums and peer reviewers participating in the Museum Assessment Program (MAP) and with museums participating in the Core Document Verification Program. Prior to joining AAM, Brianne worked in public programming and museum education with the Nantucket Historical Association. She has a B.A. in History from Randolph College and an M.A. in History with a concentration in Public History from American University. She enjoys sharing her passion for museums and spending time outdoors.
Accreditation Program Officer
(202) 218-7719
Ms. Sharma returned to AAM and the Accreditation Program in 2014; she previously served as an Accreditation Program Officer from 2005-2008. Before joining AAM she served as the Exhibitions Registrar at the National Building Museum. Prior to her relocation to Washington, DC, she was Assistant Registrar for Loans and Exhibitions at the Art Institute of Chicago, and Registrar at the David and Alfred Smart Museum at the University of Chicago. Ms. Sharma got her start in the museum field at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. She has a B.A. in Art History from the University of California, Irvine.
Museum Assessment Program Officer
(202) 218-7714
Susan works with museums and peer reviewers participating in the Museum Assessment Program (MAP) to help strengthen operations, plan for the future and meet professional standards; and with museums participating the Core Document Verification Program. She began her museum career in the Education department of an Art and Science Museum and has a background in healthcare and staff training and development. Susan holds an M.A. in Museum Studies from John Hopkins University. She enjoys traveling, food, fiber arts, and visiting museums everywhere.
Finance and Administration
Director of Finance & Administration
(202) 218-7686
Carol has been with AAM for over 35 years, starting in administrative support, progressing to office management, and more recently directing Finance and Administration. Carol earned a degree in Studio Art at the University of Maryland and previously worked at the Baltimore Museum of Art as a docent before joining AAM.
Amy Kampf
Senior Accountant
(202) 218-7667
Government Relations and Advocacy
Director, Advocacy
(202) 218-7703
Ember has been an @AAMer for several years and is perpetually impressed by the work of museums. As Director, Advocacy, she communicates with museum advocates and works closely with AAM partner organizations on field-wide advocacy. Ember is a University of Virginia graduate and holds a Master’s in Political Management from the George Washington University. In her free time, you’ll find her binge-watching The West Wing or Grey’s Anatomy reruns with a good cup of coffee, tea or wine in hand.
Barry Szczesny
Director, Government Relations and Public Policy
(202) 218-7699
Barry Szczesny is director of government relations and public policy where he develops, implements, executes and evaluates the Alliance’s current and long-range public policy goals and legislative objectives. Barry has more than 20 years of federal government relations and advocacy experience representing non-profit organizations, including museums, most recently as principal of Potomac Federal Consulting. As an attorney, he served as outside general counsel to The Art Institute of Chicago. Barry is a return AAMer: from 1996 to 2001, he was AAM’s government affairs counsel and assistant director of the Government and Public Affairs Department and looks forward to once again helping advance its mission to champion museums. He lives in Alexandria with his wife and four-year-old son.
Human Resources
Katherine McNamee
Director, Human Resources
(202) 218-7669
Katherine has enjoyed managing “all things HR” at the Alliance since Halloween of 2005. Prior to starting her association/museum career, she worked for a credit union in a variety of roles including opening new accounts, approving consumer loans and leading the recruitment process and orientation of new employees. Outside of the office, you’ll likely find her biking along the Mt. Vernon trail.
Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion
Andrew Plumley
Director, Inclusion
(202) 218-7675
Andrew Plumley is Director of Inclusion at the American Alliance of Museums where heoversees both AAM’s internal DEAI (diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion) work, as well as the Ford, Walton, and Mellon foundation funded Facing Change Initiative – Advancing Museum Board Diversity and Inclusion. He started his career in education, where he advised higher education institutions on diversity and inclusion strategy, as well as provided access and success programming for Pell eligible students of color. A systems entrepreneur, Andrew focuses on creating lasting systems change for the communities he partners with and supports. He currently serves as a Young Black and Giving Back Institute board chair, Treasurer for the Committee to Elect Jeanne Lewis for DC City Council, an ATMTC diversity, equity, and inclusion task force member, an American Express N-Gen Fellow, as well as served as a city council appointed Police Commissioner in the state of Vermont. Andrew has a BA from Middlebury College, and received an MBA with a focus in social and environmental sustainability from the University of Vermont’s Grossman School of Business.
Grace Stewart
Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion Project Manager
Grace Stewart is a Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion Project Manager at AAM. She has experience in museum exhibitions and collections management, as well as arts administration and development. She holds an MA in Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a BFA in Ceramics from Alfred University. When she isn’t working on equity in the arts, she enjoys baking fancy cupcakes.
Ibrahim Shafau
Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion Project Manager
Ibrahim Shafau is a recent addition to the American Alliance of Museums team. He will be responsible for the development and implementation of project management processes for various components of Facing Change: Advancing Museum Board Diversity & Inclusion, a major national initiative to advance diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion among museum leadership. Ibrahim is a United States Air Force Veteran, holds a BA in History from the University of Toledo, an MA in Museum Professions, and a Graduate Certificate of Non-Profit Organization Management from Seton Hall University. A firm believer that museums have the potential to change lives, Ibrahim created a pilot program, Museums 4 Us, to improve academic achievement among marginalized students and expose a severely underrepresented population to career possibilities within the museum profession. Outside of the office, Ibrahim considers himself a master chef, mediocre saxophonist, and a diehard Detroit Pistons fan.
Information Technology and Media
Director, IT and Application Services
(202) 218-7689
Josh has over ten years of experience in non-profit IT operations. As the Director of IT and Application Services, he oversees all technology platforms and services. He has a keen interest in analytics and data projects and is an avid Tableau user. Outside of work he enjoying scuba diving and traveling. If you want talk technology or Ctenophora drop him a line!
Anthony Hovington
IT and Digital Media Specialist
(202) 218-7717
Anthony is the IT and Digital Media Specialist at AAM. He has over 25 years of experience as an IT professional. Anthony assists the Director of IT and is responsible for the day to day IT and A/V support at the office. In addition, he is the technical lead for the Content Team and for digital media projects. Anthony is a graduate of Duke University with a B.A. in Afro-American Studies with a Concentration in Computer Science. Originally from Delaware, he is known outside of the office as “The Hip Hop Historian” and you may bump into him at events related to Hip Hop Culture in the DC Area.
Carlos Arroyo
Senior Web Developer
Marketing and Communications
Natanya Khashan
Director of Communications and Marketing
(202) 218-7665
Natanya Khashan is the Director of Marketing & Communications at AAM. In her role, she oversees AAM’s marketing and communications strategy and initiatives, and serves as AAM’s press contact. She started her museum career as a teen program educator in Boston where her admiration for museums and museum professionals flourished. Before joining AAM in 2019, Natanya led marketing and communications for a global diversity and inclusion consulting firm. Natanya holds a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and Design and an MA in arts management from American University with a focus on the intersection of technology and the arts and DEAI in the museum field. In her spare time, you’ll find her testing out new recipes, playing with her needy dog, or reading.
Rachel Lee
Marketing & Communications Manager
(202) 218-7668
Rachel joined AAM’s Marketing & Communications team in 2019, bringing with her a range of experience in publication production, business marketing, project coordination, and work for small museums in the Washington, D.C. area. She maintains a deepening interest in public history and digital humanities. She lives in Alexandria and, outside of work hours, is frequenting local bookstores, libraries, or searching for her next new mini-weekend excursion. She holds a master’s degree in Global, International and Comparative History from Georgetown University and a B.A. in History from George Washington University, and has completed training in marketing and digital media.
Membership
Ryan Bourke
Director, Member Services
(866) 226-2150
Ryan Bourke is Director of Member Services at AAM. In his role, he provides leadership and support to achieve the Alliance’s membership goals, including delivering high-value benefits to AAM’s members and ensuring an outstanding member experience. Prior to joining AAM in 2020, Ryan directed membership growth, benefits communication and experience strategies for AARP, after supporting membership and marketing programs in both the education and golf industries earlier in his career. Ryan earned his MBA from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, and his B.A. in Government from the University of Virginia. Outside of work, when he isn’t attending to his adorable daughters or dogs (2 of each!), you might find him on his road bike or at a local venue enjoying live music.
Lauren Griffin
Member Services Manager
(866) 226-2150
Lauren H. Griffin, membership services manager, is responsible for addressing the immediate needs of AAM’s members, including joining and renewals. She especially loves to help members access the myriad of resources available. Lauren started her career in membership services after several years working in museums as an educator. In addition to her passion for museum work, Lauren has a BFA in ceramics and is a practicing artist.
Kristin Herlihy
Member Services Manager
(866) 226-2150
Meetings and Events
Shelon Atwater
Assistant Director, Exhibits & Business Partnerships
(202) 218-7682
Shelon Atwater, assistant director, exhibits & business partnerships is responsible for the planning, management and execution of the exhibit hall at the AAM Annual Meeting and MuseumExpo. She also assists with the management of non-dues revenue generating operations. Shelon started off in member services at the Alliance in 1992.
Meetings and Events Manager
(202) 218-7708
Clara oversees all offsite and Headquarters Hotel events hosted during AAM’s Annual Meeting & Museum Expo. She also manages the annual meeting’s “Market Place of Ideas” which is a mini-expo and networking event for professional networks and attendees. Prior to joining AAM, Clara was an events associate at a think tank in Downtown D.C., supporting the production of more than 200 events each year.
Tiffany Gilbert
Manager, Conference Education
(202) 289-9119
Tiffany Burns, Manager of Conference Education is responsible for managing the session proposal process, the National Program Committee, and training and coaching speakers for the AAM Annual Meeting and MuseumExpo. Tiffany joined the Alliance in 2018.