Meet the Staff                                                                                                                       

Sandra Smith, Director
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Sandra is responsible for all aspects of operations, finances, preservation, programming, promotion, and fund raising for Villa Finale as a National Trust Historic Site.  She is also the liaison with various community groups, entities and organizations.  In addition, Sandra is responsible for the long-range planning for Villa Finale.  She is the liaison between the National Trust management and the Villa Finale Advisory Board, and provides administrative support to the Advisory Board.  

Background and Interests          
Hometown:  Fairfax, Virginia
Education:  College of William and Mary, BA Classical Civilization
                      George Washington University, MA Museum Studies
Last position:  John & Neville Bryan Director of Museum Collections, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Washington, D.C.
Museum experience:  10 years with the National Trust for Historic Preservation
Areas of interest:  Bronze Age Italy and Greece, the Roman Empire, and Native American traditional and contemporary arts.
Favorite museum or historic site:  Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli, Italy

Sylvia Hohenshelt, Manager of Public Programs
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Sylvia’s primary responsibility is to ensure that Villa Finale serves the public with unique interactive interpretive experiences.  Sylvia oversees the design, implementation and evaluation of interpretive programs, including the interpretation of Villa Finale, special programs, and exhibits at the Visitor Center.  She also oversees the volunteer program and collaborates with Meg in the development of collections programming.  In addition, Sylvia provides assistance as needed in the development and implementation of programming in the Center for Neighborhood Preservation. 

Background and Interests

Hometown:  Los Angeles, California

Education:  California State University, Long Beach

                      BA History, Minor in English Literature

Last position:  Assistant Collections Manager, Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum, City of Industry, California

Museum experience:  13 years in the museum field including over two years with the National Trust for Historic Preservation

Areas of interest:  Mexican – American War, history of California and the West, film history, American Civil War, Social Science, Religious Studies, Western European monarchies, sports history

Favorite museum or historic site:  Exposition Park in Los Angeles, California

Meg Nowack, Manager of Curatorial Resources
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Meg oversees the care and tracking of Villa Finale’s large and varied collection by maintaining Villa Finale’s collections database, managing routine care and cleaning of the collection, and identifying and coordinating needed conservation treatment.  Meg is also responsible for the development of Villa Finale’s collections management and housekeeping policies.  In addition, Meg is working closely with Sylvia in the development and implementation of Villa Finale’s collections care curriculum. 

Background and Interests

Hometown:  Lexington, Kentucky

Education:  College of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati, OH

                      University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

                      George Washington University, Washington, D.C.        

                      BA Fine Art, Minor in English

                      MA Museum Studies

Last position:  Curator, Woodrow Wilson House, Washington, D.C.

Museum experience:  14 years in the museum field including 13 with the National Trust for Historic Preservation

Areas of Interest:  Historic buildings, decorative arts, history of costume, American material culture, natural history

Favorite museum or historic site:  Some of Meg’s favorites are the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Merchant’s Museum in New York City, Ward Hall in Georgetown, Kentucky, and the Metropolitan in New York.

Chris Roddy, Buildings and Grounds Manager
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Chris oversees all of the care and maintenance of the Villa Finale buildings and grounds, including the planning and managing of all capital projects.  Chris is also overseeing the renovation of Villa Finale’s Visitor Center at 122 Madison.  In addition to these special projects, Chris is responsible for managing the cyclical maintenance program at Villa Finale, as well as emergency preparedness and security.

Background and Interests
Hometown:  Massillon, Ohio
Education:  Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI; Belmont Technical College, St. Clairsville, OH
                     Geography, Historic Preservation, Building Preservation Technology
Last position:  Historic Structures Specialist; Director of Guest Services, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, Akron, Ohio
Museum experience: 10 years including the last three with the National Trust for Historic Preservation
Areas of interest:  Chris enjoys all areas of history except the 1970’s and 1980’s.
Favorite museum or historic site:  Filoli in Woodside, California

Rob Abodeely, Visitor Services and Museum Shop Manager
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Rob oversees all operational aspects of the visitor experience including the development and management of  the Museum Shop at 122 Madison.  He is responsible for product selection, vendor relations, shop displays, and is the liaison between the staff and the artists represented in the shop.  Rob works closely with Sylvia on volunteer operations and is responsible for weekend site operations.

Background and Interests
Hometown:  San Antonio, Texas
Education:  University of Maryland College Park – undergraduate studies in Architecture; University of Texas at Austin – undergraduate studies in Architecture; Seattle Central Community College – cabinet making and furniture design
Last position:  Owner / artist of “D Block Studio” in the Blue Star Arts Complex, San Antonio
Museum experience:  15 years in customer service in a variety of bookstores, neighborhood cafés – faux painting, including over a year with the National Trust.
Areas of interest:  San Antonio history and folklore, renovating his home, working on and showing his art
Favorite museum or historic site:  Royal BC Museum, Victoria Canada and the Menger Hotel, San Antonio, Texas