For Immediate Release: June 06, 2004

Media Contact:
Melissa York
Museum Director

Phone: (703) 777-2414
FAX: (703) 777-3282
E-mail: myork@morvenpark.org

Local Museum Director Elected to
Virginia Association of Museums Council

Leesburg, VA. 6/06/04. Historic Morven Park's Director of Curatorial Operations, Tracy Gillespie has been elected to join the Virginia Association of Museums Council.

The Virginia Association of Museums (VAM) mission, to promote professionalism in Virginia's museum community, will be well represented with the election of Ms Gillespie due to over 20 years of service to Virginia museums and her extensive education and involvement in the museum industry, both locally and nationally.

In her new role as Director for the Northern Virginia Region and as a member of the Program Committee, Ms. Gillespie has already co-chaired the local Loudoun County arrangements for the VAM 2004 conference, hosted a workshop with Dodona Manor and the Loudoun Museum on Historic Restoration and co-hosted an elegant reception at a local historic private home to raise money for the VAM Scholarship program.

"We are thrilled to see Tracy receive this election to the VAM council. We know her experience, professionalism and extensive knowledge of Virginia museums' will assist the Council in meeting their goals and in turn Morven Park's." states Will O'Keefe Executive Director of Morven Park. Ms. Gillespie joined the Morven Park team as Director of Curatorial Operations in September of 2000. Previously she was with the Loudoun Museum for over 16 years, holding the position of Executive Director and prior to that the Museum's Education/Specialist.

Ms. Gillespie received her B.A. in History at Westhampton College, University of Richmond in 1982 and graduated Summa Cum Laude; elected to Phi Betta Kappa. She then went on to obtain her M.A. in Museum Education at The College of William & Mary in 1984. She was elected to Phi Alpha Theta History Society. Ms. Gillespie has held the position of a reviewer for the Museum Assessment Program (MAP) of the American Association of Museums, Curriculum Advisory Committee member for Certificated degree program in Historic Preservation at Northern Virginia Community College and a member of the board and Vice-president of the Loudoun County Historical Society. She is a founding member and co-chair for the Loudoun Heritage Consortium and also sits on the board of the Mosby Heritage Area Association.

VAM is a nonprofit membership organization for museums and individuals associated with museums that serves all museum disciplines. The Association provides education, information, resource and support services, facilitates communication among its membership, fosters inclusiveness and serves as an advocate to governmental and other decision-making entities on issues relating to museums.

For more information or to tour Historic Morven Park contact Tracy Gillespie or Melissa York directly at (703) 777-6034.