WASHAKIE MUSEUM & CULTURAL CENTER
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STAFF

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MARIAN  BENDER
Executive Director
mbender@washakiemuseum.org
Marian joined the museum in August of 2021. She has more than 20 years of experience in non-profit management, primarily in the field of environmental sustainability. She has also been a marketing director at technology and management consulting companies. She earned a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Minnesota. Born and raised in central Minnesota, with stints on both coasts, Marian is thrilled to be putting her skill sets to work for the communities of the Big Horn Basin and for Wyoming as a whole. In her spare time, Marian enjoys reading, watching movies, hosting dinner parties, hiking, and traveling around Wyoming and the world.
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STEFANIE  KOWALCZYK
Curator
curator@washakiemuseum.org

Stefanie assumed the Museum Curator position in September of 2021. She grew up in LaGrange, New York. Stefanie earned dual BAs in Anthropology and Archaeological Sciences from the State University of New York at Potsdam and a MA in Cultural Heritage Management with a focus in Public History from the University of Minnesota. Stefanie has spent over ten years working as an archaeologist for various federal, state, and local organizations. She has also worked in numerous museums including the Minnesota Historical Society and Mill City Museum in Minneapolis, the Swan’s Island Lobster and Marine Museum in Maine, and the Fremont County Museum system in Dubois. Stefanie’s favorite hobbies are hiking, running, knitting socks, and looking for new house plants.
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KURT  JOHNSON
Museum Educator
kjohnson@washakiemuseum.org

Kurt began working as the museum’s Educator in November of 2021. Kurt grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota. He holds a BA in History with a dual minor in Secondary Education and Political Science, and both an MA and a PhD in History. He has worked at the Berlin Wall Exhibition Museum in Berlin, taught at several universities, and volunteered at the Frist Museum in Nashville. Kurt is fluent in German, and his hobbies include reading and discussing German history, golfing, and wrestling with his two-year old son. A fun fact: Kurt’s first childhood home was in St. Louis Park, MN, a few blocks from where the Coen Brothers lived.
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CHLOE  STINE
Events/Facility Rental
cstine@washakiemuseum.org

Chloe has served as the museum’s Events Coordinator since January of 2018. In addition to managing special events, she oversees the gift shop and facility rentals. Chloe grew up in Worland and spent a year as a Rotary Exchange student in Slovakia. She attended Sheridan College for General Studies and Northwest Community College for Art. Her background includes eight years of hospitality experience and ten years of mothering. In her spare time, Chloe enjoys spending time with her kids and family, camping, hiking, traveling, oil painting, and volunteering with the Worland Rotary Club and the Worland/Ten Sleep Visitors Council.
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JACQUELYN  DENNIS
Assistant Curator/Artist Contact
jsimonis@washakiemuseum.org

Jacquelyn began working at the museum in February of 2022 as Assistant Curator & Artist Coordinator. Jacquelyn grew up in Wisconsin but attended high school in Prague, Czech Republic. She graduated from the University of Montana in December of 2021 with a BFA in Technical Theatre, with a concentration in Scenic Design and Props, and a minor in Anthropology. Jacquelyn coordinates artist exhibits, organizes art workshops for both youths and adults, and assists with exhibit installation. She is thrilled to use her skills in a museum setting. Jacquelyn misses Wisconsin’s verdant landscape but finds Wyoming’s scenery to be striking. She loves watching movies and doing all kinds of crafts.
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NICK  BOWER
Facility Manager/Maintenance
wmmaintenance@washakiemuseum.org

Nick has been Facility Manager at the museum since March of 2019, although he worked prior museum events during his sister Katy’s tenure as museum chef. Nick’s mother also worked as a bookkeeper at the museum at that time, while his father participated in one of the early Quick Draw events as an artist. Nick was blessed to be raised in Worland with a close extended family. His work experiences include a stint in Alaska rearing salmon at a fish hatchery and as a commercial fisherman. He also worked as an arborist, bar manager, and in beverage distribution and sales, experiences which come in handy as a “maintenance man.” Nick loves to cook, fish, camp, spend time with friends and family, and binge watch TV series. He is a high school-level referee for football, basketball, and soccer, which keeps him fit and busy.
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GARY  SUTHERLAND
Bookkeeper
bookkeeper@washakiemuseum.org

Gary took over the museum’s Bookkeeping & Finance role in 2021. Gary was born and raised in Conrad, Montana. He earned a BA in Commerce, as well as his teaching certification, from Montana State University in Bozeman. Gary has held positions in bookkeeping, finances, and account management for 30 years. In addition, he spent seven years as a high school accounting teacher and football and basketball coach, and one year as a conversational English teacher to Korean English teachers. Gary’s favorite activities include fishing, golfing, and rooting for the Montana State Bobcats.
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ROBYN  IRONS
Grants/Website
rirons@washakiemuseum.org

Robyn, Grants & Media Manager for the museum, started working for the museum full time in 2010 and transitioned to part time in 2015. Currently, she works remotely from Colorado. Robyn has 15 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations in grant writing, marketing, web design, and management positions. Robyn grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado. She attended the University of Wyoming, earning a BA in Anthropology and Gender/Cultural Studies, and worked as an Archival Intern at the American Heritage Center. Robyn enjoys activities with her kids, hiking, gardening, traveling, canoeing, backpacking, snowshoeing, and volunteering.
ROBIN  ARTHUN
Guest Services/Membership

rarthun@washakiemuseum.org

BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS

Leslie Basse, President
Margaret "Muffie" Shaw, Vice President
Janet Benson, Treasurer
Steve Radabaugh
Secretary
Kent Richins
Charles Smith
Jim Nelson
Kathy Mercado
Barbara Berryman

George Sheaff
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2200 Big Horn Avenue
Worland, WY  82401
307.347.4102
Hours: Mon. - Sat.
9:00am - 4:00pm

© 2023 Washakie Museum. All rights reserved.
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  • Home
  • Exhibits
    • Permanent Galleries >
      • The Ancient Basin
      • The Last West
    • Temporary Gallery >
      • Howdy! From Big, Wonderful Wyoming!
      • Art Exhibit & Sale
    • Guided Tours
  • Events
    • Trivia Night
    • Speaker Series
    • STEAM Saturdays
    • Big Horn Basin Talent Show
    • Art Exhibit Opening
  • Education
    • Youth Programs >
      • STEAM Saturdays
      • Washakie Robotics Team
      • Guided Youth Tours
      • Youth Scholarship Application
    • Adult Programs >
      • Speaker Series
  • Calendar
    • Trivia Night
    • Speaker Series
    • STEAM Saturdays
    • Big Horn Basin Talent Show
    • Art Exhibit Opening
  • Visitor Information
    • Directions
    • Hours & Admission
    • Passport Program
    • Guided Public Tours
    • Guided Youth Tours
    • Visitor Survey
  • Join & Support
    • Membership >
      • Individual & Family
      • Business & Corporate
    • Support Us
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Facility Rental
    • Staff & Board of Directors
    • Job Openings
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Our History
    • Collections
    • Strategic Plan
  • Gift Shop
    • Books
    • Art >
      • Sam Angelo
      • Cal Fulfer
      • Tom Lucas
      • Sean McKinley
      • Jen Smith
    • Merchandise
  • Mammoth News