staff bios

Museum Staff

We particularly pride ourselves on being a small organization with large impact on the community.
We truly love what we do, and we hope to sea you soon!
Please make an appointment to meet with staff. The general office line is (631) 367-3418.

In Alphabetical Order:

NEIL BROGAN

ACCOUNTANT

brogie@optonline.net

In the summer of 1974, I was asked to fill in for a friend who was working weekends at the Museum. I continued for several years whenever the friend could not make work. In 1977, I was added officially to the staff. After graduating CW Post School Of Professional Accountancy in 1981, I became the accountant for the Museum and have served in that capacity ever since.

I worked at Zeidman, Lackowitz & Company Certified Public Accountants, Syosset NY for 25 years. I am currently the Chief Financial Officer for The Inn At New Hyde Park.

I belong to the New Hyde Park Fire Department where I have served as Captain Of Protection Engine Co. #2, an Emergency Medical Technician and Captain of the Termites Racing Team. I served as President of The Nassau County Volunteer Firemens Parade and Drill Team Captain's Association. I am a member of the Huntington Community Band and the Lindenhurst Brass Marching Band. I sing in the St. Annes Garden City Choir and am a member of the steering committee for the annual Newsday / Hofstra High School Marching Band Festival. I am a member of the National Eagle Scout Association and serve as Treasurer for the New Hyde Park Village Museum Association.

I enjoy spending time at my summer home located in Glen Spey NY, golfing and collecting antique vehicles.

MARIA FISCHETTI

MUSEUM EDUCATOR

mfischetti@cshwhalingmuseum.org; Ext 11

I'm so excited to have the opportunity to work for the Whaling Museum at Cold Spring Harbor. My role at the museum is to educate the community on the wonderful history that the museum has to offer. I come from a health and wellness background and have been educating the community in Suffolk County for the past fourteen years.

I started working as a community volunteer in Nassau County when I was 14 years old and continue to bring warmth, knowledge and enthusiasm to the people I teach. I love to learn new things and I love to make people smile.

I graduated from St. Joseph's College with a B.S. degree in Community Health and Human Services with a certificate in teaching.

I love to hike, enjoy boating and spending time with my family.

KATIE KELLY

BUSINESS MANAGER

kkelly@cshwhalingmuseum.org
Ext 10

I am thrilled to be on The Whaling Museum team! It is great be part of an organization that values education, the environment, and sharing and preserving local history. My role here is to facilitate the overall business flow of the Whaling Museum.

My career path has been a winding road yet has a common thread of helping others and facilitating the smooth operations of programs. After growing up on Long Island and graduating from Adelphi University with a B.A. in Communicative Disorders, I worked for Frost Valley YMCA and The Community YMCA in various roles including Environmental Educator, Camp Director, Teen Program Director, and Alumni Coordinator. Hiring and training staff for camp programs led me to matching employers’ needs with qualified candidates as a Senior Agent with Randstad, a multinational human resources consulting firm. Upon returning to the non-profit sector, I worked as Development Coordinator for Sustainable Long Island and further honed my skills in event planning, fundraising, and database management. Working at The Whaling Museum has proven to be a wonderful opportunity to pull all of these skills together.

When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, trivia games, golf, catching live music, knitting, and reading.

ELIZABETH MARRIOTT

Collections & Exhibits Coordinator

emarriott@cshwhalingmuseum.org
Ext. 15

I am very excited to join the Whaling Museum team!

History museums draw connections between the present and the past and create communities, particularly a museum with as long a history as this one.

One of my passions is material culture and I look forward to exploring the variety of ways that the whaling industry affects everyday objects today.

I grew up on Long Island and have always been interested in museums. While completing my BA at the University of Pittsburgh I studied Art History and Anthropology where I learned to see beauty in the design and materials of all kinds of objects. I recently completed my MA in Museum Studies at George Washington University where I studied Decorative Arts and Collections Management. I have previously worked at the White House Historical Association where I was able to translate my personal love of history into engaging exhibitions and relevant exhibitions. At the National Museum of Natural History I learned how to best protect, store, and document collection objects of all kinds so that the objects can be ready to fascinate visitors for years to come.
My academic interests include the history of taxonomy, historic furniture, historic preservation, architecture- particularly projects that were designed but never built, and miniatures.

When I am not exploring one of the many amazing museums on Long Island, I enjoy spending time with my family and reading.

PETER SCHWIND

CARPENTRY & BUILDING

Recently retired from the CSH Lab - catch master carpenter Pete building, fixing, moving, sawing, measuring, hanging, assembling, drilling and trimming our exhibits, displays, and materials at the Museum, and making us look our best!

NOMI DAYAN

EXEcutive Director

ndayan@cshwhalingmuseum.org
Ext 17

My work centers on bringing others closer to the wonders of the world. I started getting involved with teaching when I was 14, and I received my BA from Hunter College and MA in Museum Education from Bank Street College. Originally from Brooklyn, I joined the museum in 2008 in an effort to revitalize the organization's vision, and I have tremendously enjoyed being part of the exciting growth in a petite but vibrant gem on Long Island. Taking a creative interpretation of the museum's historic collection, I create opportunities which spark curiosity and creativity in individuals through interdisciplinary, constructivist learning.

Previous experiences include teaching about nature and environmental studies in the education departments of the Prospect Park Zoo and New York Aquarium of the Wildlife Conservation Society, and running programs about science, botany, and culture at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. As surprising as this may sound, the Whaling Museum presents the most amazing opportunity for me to combine all of these interests! It has been particularly rewarding sharing our inspiration and approaches with others at museum conferences. I recently served on the Board of the Museum Association of New York.

Aside from my fascination with the ocean, my curiosity is ever-growing: why the natural world works the way it does, and why people do the things they do. Other interests are herpetology, archaeology, the secret lives of bugs, geology, Native cultures, vegetable gardening, whistling, and creative writing. I am committed to living a vegan lifestyle.

CINDY GRIMM

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

cgrimm@cshwhalingmuseum.org
Ext. 12

The Whaling Museum team is truly an amazing group of people. The staff here come from many diverse backgrounds, but we all have the same goal of bringing maritime
history alive through art, education and experience.

As a lifelong Huntington resident, I
enjoy sharing our amazing museum with others, and bringing local groups and individuals to us. Previously working in journalism, photography and teaching allows me to use a unique set of skills to further advocate for our museum and the community surrounding it. I’m always thrilled when people come through our doors for the first time and wonder at the fascinating stories we tell in our small (but significant) space!

Before joining the staff in 2013, I had received my BA in Communications and Studio Art from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA and my MA in Art Education from LIU Post. My love of photography as enabled me to exhibit in several juried and solo exhibitions along the East Coast, including having a piece locally in the Heckscher Museum’s Biennial.

When not at the museum or shooting new work, I enjoy taking neighborhood walks with my husband, son, and our two dogs, as well as an odd set of hobbies which includes quilling, Russian punch needle, paper bead making, tatting, and sewing.

JOAN LOWENTHAL

STORE manager & ADMISSIONS ASSOCIATE

whalingstore@gmail.com
Ext 13

Sailing to Mystic Seaport in Mystic, CT each summer for over 18 years has instilled in me an interest in maritime history. What a joy it is to work at the Whaling Museum! I love greeting people and sharing my knowledge of the exhibit and showing the movie about the Charles W. Morgan. Many times I learn from our visitors.

Other experiences include working as a Montessori Teacher for over 20 years, substitute teaching, and volunteering in several organizations. I was Commander of Neptune Sail and Power Squadron, a unit of the United States Power Squadron® for one year and on the Bridge and Executive Board for many more.

In my free time I enjoy, kayaking, sailing, scuba diving, going to the gym, playing the piano, and cooking.

BRENNA RAE McCORMICK-THOMPSON

CUrATOR OF EDUCATIoN

bmccormickthompson@
cshwhalingmuseum.org
Ext. 16

I'm incredibly proud to be part of the Whaling Museum's wonderful team! Having grown up both in coastal New England and along the shores of Long Island Sound, I have always been fascinated by the complex relationships that exist between people and the sea. I was first drawn to the study of maritime history while completing my BA at Drew University, where I spent a year researching early American maritime literature and the role it played in the creation of a new national identity. Increasingly interested in Public History, I shifted my focus to the interplay between maritime heritage sites and collective memory while completing a joint MA in Global History at Georgetown University and King's College London.

No stranger to the world of museums, I have previously worked at Historic Hudson Valley, the New-York Historical Society, Royal Museums Greenwich, the Westchester Children's Museum, and the South Street Seaport Museum. It is a joy to be able to add the Whaling Museum to this list.

When I’m not working, you can find me hiking, reading, exploring new museums, or of course, spending time down by the sea.