From the Executive Director

The nine citizen commissioners of the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission are, front row, left to right, Allison Dorsey, Hayley Haldeman (chair), Robert Malley, Kim Bracey and Caleb Pifer, and back row, left to right, William Lewis, Andrew Masich, Randell Spackman, and Ken Weinstein.
Photos, Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission

Pennsylvania Heritage is the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission’s flagship publication, so within the masthead, you will find PHMC leadership listed. The commission is made up of 14 commissioners who play an important role in the governance of PHMC. With this issue, you may have noticed that some of the individuals listed as commissioners have changed. The composition of the commission is defined within the Pennsylvania History Code (Title 37). The commission includes four legislators — two senators and two representatives appointed by leadership within their parties — and the secretary of education. There are also nine citizen commissioners who are appointed by the governor.

Although the commissioners are obligated to meet three times each year, they do so much more than that in the service of Pennsylvania history. These commissioners establish and adopt policies for PHMC, set the direction of the agency’s work, and hire and supervise the executive director. They promote PHMC and its work. The commissioners also approve various board appointments, PHMC grants, and PHMC’s Pennsylvania Historical Markers. They represent PHMC at public events, including historical marker dedications, events at historic sites and museums, and public meetings.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank commissioners who have recently completed their service — Ophelia Chambliss, Robert Savakinus and Philip Zimmerman. I would also like to thank former Chair Nancy Moses and former Vice Chair Fred Powell for their steady leadership and boundless enthusiasm. Commissioners William Lewis and Andrew Masich were integral to the success of the commission as well, and they will continue to serve. The agency accomplished much under the direction of this most recent commission. I am grateful to each of these commissioners for their support, guidance and wisdom, and I have appreciated their passion for Pennsylvania history.

Over the summer Gov. Josh Shapiro appointed seven new citizen members to the commission. PHMC’s new chair is Hayley Haldeman of Pittsburgh. An attorney who specializes in nonprofits, Hayley has a wide range of experience with cultural institutions; she has served on museum boards and as a museum director. Hayley is joined by Kim Bracey of York, Allison Dorsey of Swarthmore, Robert Malley of Apollo, Caleb Pifer of Erie, Randell Spackman of West Chester, and Ken Weinstein of Philadelphia. This new commission brings broad expertise in the fields of history, museums and historic preservation as well as a passion for the history of this commonwealth. I am thankful for their service and look forward to working with each of them. If you happen to meet these commissioners, please introduce yourself, thank them for their service, and share your hopes for PHMC with them.

Andrea Lowery
Executive Director, PHMC