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Melissa Mann Appointed to Lead Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission’s Bureau of Historic Sites & Museums

09/07/2021

Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) has appointed Melissa Mann to the role of director of the agency’s Bureau of Historic Sites & Museums. In this position, Mann will supervise Pennsylvania’s 24 state-owned historic sites and museums, leading division chiefs, site administrators, regional educators and curators, and administrative staff. This network of sites and museums along the Pennsylvania Trails of History traces 300 years of Pennsylvania’s history.

Mann has worked in the public history field for the last 18 years, most recently as the site administrator at Drake Well Museum & Park. Since coming to PHMC eight years ago, Melissa has been a strong leader, not only at the site, but within the bureau and the agency. 

“Melissa is a proven administrator, passionate professional, respected mentor, and valued colleague,” said PHMC Executive Director Andrea Lowery. “I know she will be a wonderful leader for the Bureau of Historic Sites & Museums.”

Mann has been a champion of inclusive and accessible history, participating in the Bureau of Historic Sites & Museum’s 21st Century Museums initiative, the Accessibility Advisory Council, PHMC’s Equity and Inclusion Team, and PHMC’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Task Force. At Drake Well, she led the revision of the site’s mission and vision and the development of its new strategic plan, increasing the site’s contemporary relevance and deepening its ties to its surrounding community.

Prior to coming to PHMC, Mann served as both Oil 150 deputy director and senior project manager for heritage development at the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism, administrator of Pennsylvania’s Oil Region National Heritage Area.

Mann began her career in New Mexico, where she served as photo archivist at the Albuquerque Museum of Art & History. She curated a collection of more than 150,000 photographs, postcards, maps, films, oral histories, and slides.

Mann holds a bachelor’s degree in history and Spanish from Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio. She earned a master’s degree in history and completed all coursework for a Ph.D. in history at the University of New Mexico.

The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission is the official history agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Learn more by visiting PHMC online or following us on FacebookTwitterInstagram or LinkedIn.

MEDIA CONTACT: Howard Pollman, 717-705-8639 

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