NPM - Key Persons

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• Assistant Curator
• Assistant Curator Learn More Alison R. Bazylinski
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Alison specializes in U.S. cultural history and material culture. She holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from William & Mary, where her research examined how fabric and clothing articulated consumer identity, gender, and culture in the early twentieth century. She has held fellowships at the Chrysler Museum of Art, the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University, and Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture. Research Interests: Material culture, mail-order, personal presentation, commerce and consumption, Rural Free Delivery, and postal uniforms.

Job Titles:

• Librarian Learn More Baasil Wilder

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• Web Management Specialist
• Web Management Specialist Learn More Bill Lommel

Bill graduated with an M.A. in Museum Studies with a concentration in museum collection management. He started at the National Postal Museum in the spring of 2001. Currently he works with the museum's Web Team as editor of the museum's website content. Interests: hiking, gardening, art, travel, languages, and cultures

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• Curator of Philately
• Curator of Philately Learn More Daniel Piazza
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Daniel A. Piazza became the Smithsonian National Postal Museum's Chief Curator of Philately in 2014. He is responsible for exhibitions, research, and acquisitions related to the museum's six million postage stamps and postal artifacts. Piazza lectures widely and has been interviewed by numerous media outlets including The Washington Post, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, National Public Radio, The Today Show, and C-SPAN. He is a member of national and international philatelic societies and a frequent contributor to collector journals. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London in 2017 and named one of Linn's Stamp News's "Most Influential Philatelists" in 2022.

Job Titles:

• Collections Manager, Collections Department
• Collections Manager, Collections Department Learn More Elizabeth ( Beth ) Heydt
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• Management
• Management Personnel Specialist Learn More Ella Alexander
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• Director of the National Postal Museum
• Director, National Postal Museum Learn More Elliot Gruber
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Elliot Gruber is the director of the National Postal Museum. The museum is dedicated to the preservation, study and presentation of postal history and philately (the collection and study of postage stamps, postmarks and stamped envelopes). The museum hosts exhibitions, educational public programs and research to showcase the largest and most comprehensive collection of stamps and philatelic material in the world. Its William H. Gross Stamp Gallery is the largest stamp gallery in the world. Before joining the Smithsonian in September 2017, Gruber was the chief development and external affairs officer for the Jewish Social Service Agency. Gruber has more than 30 years' experience in the nonprofit sector. As chief development and external affairs officer for the Jewish Social Service Agency since January, Gruber was responsible for the organization's philanthropic revenue, marketing and communications. Under his leadership, the agency launched a $6 million capital campaign to renovate one of its buildings in the Washington, D.C., area. The Jewish Social Service Agency is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, client-focused health and social service agency helping individuals and families meet emotional social and physical challenges for more than 120 years. Before joining the Jewish Social Service Agency, Gruber was a principal at EHG Consulting, which provides strategic planning and operations and fundraising expertise to nonprofit organizations. Gruber worked with the Houston Maritime Museum, which is preparing to launch a $50 million capital campaign for its new facility scheduled to open in 2020. He also conducted a comprehensive review and analysis of the organizational and fundraising structure for Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Gruber was the president and chief executive officer of The Mariners' Museum and Park in Newport News, Va., from February 2013 through April 2016. There, he managed a $7 million annual budget, 550 acres of parkland and a staff of 90. He also established the Monitor Foundation, a nonprofit organization overseeing the largest marine metals conservation lab in the world, to ensure continued conservation of the ironclad steamship the USS Monitor, which was built by the U.S. Navy during the Civil War. From September 2010 until January 2013, Gruber was the senior vice president for resource development for the United Way of the National Capital Area. He was responsible for all fundraising programs, including the Greater Washington Give to the Max Day, which in its inaugural year raised more than $2 million in 24 hours. Gruber was the vice president and chief operating officer of the Gettysburg Foundation (August 2002-September 2010) where he directed the $125 million capital campaign to build a new museum and visitor center at Gettysburg National Military Park. He oversaw all museum operations, including ticketing, reservations, visitor services and facilities management. He has also worked in leadership capacities at the Ocean Conservancy, the Civil War Trust and the National Parks Conservation Association. Gruber received his bachelor's degree in psychology from Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., and his master's degree in organizational psychology from Columbia University in New York City. He succeeds Allen Kane, who retired in January 2017, as director of the museum. Marshall Emery served as acting director.

Job Titles:

• Director, Department of Education & Visitor Services
• Director, Department of Education & Visitor Services Learn More Jessie Aucoin
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• Database Administrator
• Database Administrator Learn More Katie Burke
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• Collections Technician
• Collections Technician Learn More Kelly Cooper
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Kelly joined the National Postal Museum in 2022. She graduated with an M.A. in Material Culture and Public Humanities with a certificate in Public History and a B.A. in History from Virginia Tech. She previously worked at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York. Her role at NPM focuses on collections maintenance/management activities and preventative conservation. She also assists with preparing objects for loans and exhibitions. Interests: Learning French, cooking, photography, traveling

Job Titles:

• Accessions Officer and Safety Coordinator
• Accessions Officer and Safety Coordinator Learn More Manda Kowalczyk
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After graduating with a BA in Arts and Culture, I began working in the Preservation Department in 2004 assisting with conservation treatments, rehousing, courier trips and exhibitions. I also serve as the museum's Safety Coordinator by collaborating with staff to ensure exhibit and staff areas are safe for all! Interests: Live music, animal welfare, and sports.

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• Manager, Public Relations & Internet Affairs
• Manager, Public Relations & Internet Affairs Learn More Marty Emery
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Nancy A. Pope, a Smithsonian Institution curator and founding historian of the National Postal Museum, passed away on August 30, 2019, at Oak Manor Healthcare Center in Burtonsville, Maryland. She was 62 years old. Nancy is survived by her brother Chris Pope, aunt Peggy Conn, and cousins Margaret Mason, Marcy Cohen and Rex Conn. Nancy was born January 28, 1957, in Pendleton, Oregon to Joseph and Paula Pope. Friends and family recall her declaring at an early age her desire to work for the Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum, education, and research complex. Majoring in history and French, Nancy graduated from the University of Oregon in 1979. She relocated to Washington, D.C. - the hub of the Smithsonian - and worked at the League of Women Voters, followed by the Library of Congress. In 1984, Nancy attained her childhood dream when she was hired as a museum technician at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. At that time, she concurrently pursued a Master of the Arts in American Studies from the George Washington University. Nancy was instrumental in the establishment of the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum, which opened to the public on July 30, 1993. As the museum's historian, she was responsible for researching and writing its 21 original exhibitions, 7 films, and many digital assets. Throughout her decades-long career as a museum professional, Nancy created and contributed to numerous permanent, temporary, and traveling exhibitions. These exhibits touched upon her primary areas of expertise-labor and technology, transportation systems, and mail processing-but also illuminated nuanced elements of history through a unique postal lens. Highlights include "As Precious as Gold," a 1998 exhibition exploring means of communication during the Klondike Gold Rush; "The Great One," a 2001 bilingual exhibition detailing the life and legacy of baseball legend Roberto Clemente; and "Pony Express: Romance vs. Reality," a 2010 exhibition scrutinizing the short-lived delivery service and the fascination it continues to inspire. Notably, Nancy collected the handcuffs used on Ted Kaczynski (the Unabomber) when he was captured near Lincoln, Montana by a law enforcement task force that included postal inspectors. After the September 11th terrorist attacks, she supervised the accession of items and recording of oral histories from employees of the Church Street Station Post Office, which processed and delivered mail to the former World Trade Center. She also obtained the Princeton, New Jersey collection box from which the 2001 Anthrax attack letters were mailed. These objects remain on permanent view at the National Postal Museum. As an avid early adopter of electronic media, Nancy led the project team that built the National Postal Museum's first website in 2002; she remained a frequent contributor to the website throughout her tenure. She also created the museum's earliest social media presence in 2007 and moderated lively forums for the 19th century postal mascot Owney the Dog, as well as for former Railway Mail Service clerks and their families. A noted expert on the history and workings of the United States Postal Service and its predecessor-the Post Office Department-Nancy fielded inquiries from across the world and gave interviews with media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today, NPR, and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. A gifted and prolific writer, her work has appeared in publications including Smithsonian Magazine, American Philatelist, Postmasters Advocate, Civil War 150, Every Stamp Tells a Story, and many more. With great enthusiasm, Nancy guided and mentored over 75 curatorial interns, supporting their research and championing their accomplishments. Nancy was committed to philanthropy and gave generously to local, national, and international charities. She also volunteered her time to the Whitman-Walker Clinic and Food & Friends, an organization that delivers nutritious meals to the critically ill. Nancy's expertise, sharp wit, and boundless passion for her work will be missed by many. At her request, no service will be held. It is suggested that donations be made in Nancy Pope's honor to the Heritage Station Museum in Pendleton, Oregon, or to the institution she helped create-the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C.

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• Visitor Experience Manager
• Visitor Experience Manager Learn More Pauline Bonilla

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• Public Affairs Specialist
• Public Affairs Specialist Learn More Ren Cooper

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Scott Devine is a rare book and paper conservator and preservation administrator with over 20 years of experience in the field of conservation. He holds a Masters of Information Science with an Advanced Certificate in Conservation Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and received additional training in rare book conservation at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. and at the Centro del bel libro in Ascona, Switzerland. Scott has established preservation programs at major academic research libraries in the United States and advised on conservation projects at libraries and museums throughout Europe. He is a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC).

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• Research Chair Learn More Susan Smith