Our Staff & Board

Meet the dynamic group of people responsible for championing the humanities throughout Maryland!

Our Staff

Isabella Altherr
Program Assistant
Chautauqua, Maryland History Day & Veterans Oral History Project
(410) 685-0452
Email

Eden Etzel
Program Assistant
Maryland Center for the Book
(410) 685-3715
Email

Adrienne Gieszl
Advancement Associate
(410) 246-9415
Email

Marilyn Hatza
Program Officer
Grants & Strategic Partnerships
(410) 685-4187
Email

Aaron Heinsman
Director of Advancement
(410) 685-4183
Email

Anna Keneda
Maryland History Day Outreach Assistant
Email

Kelly King
Grants Specialist
(410) 685-1653
Email

Jim Kitterman
Fiscal Officer
(410) 685-4182
Email

Grace Leatherman
Maryland History Day Outreach Coordinator
Email

Andrea Lewis
Program Officer
Maryland Center for the Book
(410) 685-6161
Email

Susan Millard
Office Manager
(410) 685-4184
Email

Phoebe Stein
Executive Director
(410) 685-0095
Email

Christine Stewart
Program Officer
Chautauqua, Maryland History Day & Veterans Oral History Project
(410) 685-4185
Email

Sarah Weissman
Communications Specialist
(410) 685-4186
Email

Theresa Worden
Program Coordinator
Grants & Museum on Main Street
(410) 685-0303
Email

MHC Board Members

Our Board

Cynthia Raposo, Chair
Montgomery County

Keith Stone, Vice Chair
Baltimore City

James (Jim) Cornelsen, Treasurer
Charles County

Silvia Golombek, Secretary
Baltimore County

Ronald (Pete) Lesher, Jr.*,
Government Liaison
Talbot County

Allyson Black
Anne Arundel County

Elizabeth (Liz) Cannon
Frederick County

Scott Casper
Howard County

Mary Kay Finan
Allegany County

Rian Hargrave
Baltimore City

Mary Hastler*
Harford County

Mark Irwin
Montgomery County

Julia (Julie) Madden*
Howard County

Tahira Mahdi
Baltimore County

Tiffany McGhee
Baltimore County

Heather Mitchell
Howard County

Maarten L. Pereboom
Wicomico County

Jeanne Pirtle
St. Mary’s County

Gale Rasin
Kent County

Thomas (Tom) B. Riford
Washington County

Nancy Rogers
Montgomery County

Stephen J. Sfekas
Baltimore City

Jennifer Shea
Montgomery County

Guffrie M. Smith, Jr.
Calvert County

*Gubernatorial appointee

  • “This Maryland Humanities grant is absolutely vital to the mission of our non-profit organization devoted to archaeological research and public education. Simply put, we could not have carried out our ambitious exhibit projects without this much-appreciated support. Maryland Humanities has enabled us to share meaningful stories and engage audiences in innovative and creative ways. The platform they have provided strengthens our organization and the community we serve. Thank you!”

    Lost Towns Project, Inc., Major Grant recipient, Anne Arundel County

  • “The researching and communicating skills have made me a more confident person in all academic endeavors. These are skills that will last me a lifetime.”

    ​Maryland History Day student participant

  • “[The Walking Tour] was a delight: loved the audience-participation with the quotations; great history and anecdotes from the guides; they were excellent at asking provocative questions of the participants, eliciting thought and engagement; good pace, even for someone slow walking.”

    ​Literary Walking Tour Participant

  • “[Humanities] are the gateway to our souls, and to understanding each other. They enable us to avoid repeating our mistakes, and are a tool for teaching compassion.”

    ​​Maryland Humanities survey participant

  • “Across three months of programming, Kent County witnessed an explosion of 39 free public humanities and arts program presented by more than 20 community partners. Hosted by local churches, businesses, storefronts, art galleries, environmental groups and government agencies, these programs included lectures, exhibitions, walking tours, poster contests, book discussions, school field trips and oral history projects. This wide-ranging and grassroots approach to fostering civic dialogue created a moment for the community to pause and reflect – to consider together its diverse work experiences and shared economic histories while also discussing the county’s economic potential and planning policies moving forward.”

    Barbara Foster, Vice President, G.A.R. Post #25 Sumner Hall, Chestertown, MD, Host Site, Museum on Main Street

  • “The opportunity to host the Smithsonian’s “The Way We Worked” exhibition allowed Sumner Hall to develop meaningful companion exhibits that can remain open to the public in the future. Exhibitions across the county were co-curated by community tradition-bearers, scholars, and college students, empowering citizens of diverse backgrounds to work together to tell their own often-untold stories.”

    Barbara Foster, Vice President, G.A.R. Post #25 Sumner Hall, Chestertown, MD, Host Site, Museum on Main Street

  • “My participation continuance with the program comes from the great cohesiveness of our group… even when new people join… everyone’s ideas and work philosophies teach me something new about how to handle my work and my own life.”

    ​Literature & Medicine participant

  • “Again it was a wonderful experience with your students and a great project for them. To see and talk to real Vietnam vets is important to get real stories. You have a lot of work to do but it is a really worthwhile experience for the students “as well” as us Vietnam vets.”

    ​Standing Together: Veterans Oral History Project, veteran participant

  • “[The humanities] provide us with tools and perspectives to analyze and interpret social phenomena with different lenses; they open up perspectives we may not have thought about and help us look at issues in more empathic ways.”

    ​Maryland Humanities survey participant

  • “[I enjoyed] the selection of icons: Taylor [Branch], Isabel [Wilkerson], and Sherrilyn [Ifill] as a team!!! I died and am in heaven.”

    Pulitzer 100 event attendee

  • “[Lifelong learning] means that we are forever students, constantly discovering, researching, exploring, and challenging ourselves.”

    ​Maryland Humanities survey participant

  • We were really moved by the testimony of the veterans and impressed by the professionalism and dedication of the students.

    Standing Together: Veterans Oral History Project, parent

  • “This contest gives [students] a chance to practice [letter writing] while also expressing themselves about a work of literature or a particular author that has made an impact on them personally. As a teacher, I benefit from reading the letters because I always learn new things about each student.”

    ​Letters About Literature teacher

  • I felt that I had a very unique oral history experience. It was very emotional and I feel that I learned valuable information. I got to learn stories and practice skills that normally I wouldn’t have been comfortable with.

    Standing Together: Veterans Oral History Project, student participant

  • “The Smithsonian exhibit, Key Ingredients: America By Food, has left the building but not the community. We got a glimpse of what we can do and how we can bring the community together around a common goal. From this day forward, the sky is now the limit for DCHS.”

    ​Carol Lacy ~ Dorchester County Historical Society, Cambridge, MD, Host Site, Museum on Main Street
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About Us
Maryland Humanities is a statewide, educational nonprofit organization that creates and supports educational experiences in the humanities that inspire all Marylanders to embrace lifelong learning, exchange ideas openly, and enrich their communities.
Maryland Humanities
108 West Centre Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201-4565
(410) 685-0095
(410) 685-0795 fax
info@mdhumanities.org
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