Our Staff

MELLON PUBLIC HISTORY FELLOW

Allison has a Ph.D. in English Literature from University at Buffalo, SUNY. She has published scholarship and literary criticism in academic and popular magazines and journals and occasionally teaches college courses. As the Sheldon's new public historian, she brings her background in cultural and historical research together with her love of sharing ideas, history, and conversation with others.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Coco joined the Sheldon Museum in November of 2023. She holds a Master’s Degree in Women’s Studies/History of Science from UW-Madison, where her research interests focused on the history of health education and material depictions of illness and well-being. She is passionate about community driven organizations that offer their visitors opportunities for reflection, learning and fun. Most recently, she was the Library Director for Lawrence Memorial Library in Bristol, VT. She lives in Lincoln with her partner, daughter and pup.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Cara grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, where her curiosity for the past and love of local history began early. After raising her three children, Scott, Matthew, and Ava. She returned to school and completed her Accounting degree at the Community College of Vermont.

In 2021, she married Paul Mosier, and together they treasure time with their big, blended family of six children and nine grandchildren. Whether visiting historic sites, wandering through museum galleries, or sharing family stories, Cara finds joy in connecting the past to the present.

For 18 years, she served as Business Manager for the beloved Addison County Fair & Field Days, a role that kept her close to the community she loves. In January 2025, she brought her passion for history to the Sheldon Museum, where she’s excited to help preserve and share its rich stories.

VISITOR SERVICES COORDINATOR

Barbara is originally from Niskayuna, NY and received a B.S. in Fashion Merchandising from Marywood College in Scranton, PA. She went on to earn an M.A. in Museum Studies: Decorative Arts/Conservation from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and has over 30 years of museum experience starting at the Shelburne Museum. In 2006 she moved to Glens Falls, NY, where she was Registrar and Collections Manager at The Hyde Collection. Barbara returned to Shelburne Museum in 2012 as the head of the Registration department and was later promoted to Director of Collections. Barbara lives in Ferrisburgh with her husband David, she has three stepchildren and eight grandchildren ranging in age from 3 to 21. She is thrilled to be working at the Sheldon and enjoys meeting visitors and friends of the Museum

ARCHIVIST

Elizabeth grew up in Potsdam, New York. She holds a B.A. in History and Art History from St. Lawrence University and a Master’s in Information Studies from McGill University. Her background is in rare materials cataloging, with a focus on 18th and 19th century American history. Before joining the Sheldon Museum Stewart-Swift Research Center, she worked with the New-York Historical Society, the Winthrop Group, and Kent School. Elizabeth enjoys working with the unique objects that bring history to life.

COLLECTIONS & PROGRAMS ASSISTANT

Alexandra graduated from Colgate University with a B.A. in English and Studio Art. Her interest in interdisciplinary study across medieval literature and art history led her to pursue a Master’s in Medieval Studies at the University of York in England. Her dissertation examined female modes of communication through art and emotion in the story of ‘Philomena,’ a 12th century Old French translation from Ovid’s Metamorphoses and its transmission into 14th century Ovide Moralisé manuscripts.

Since joining the Sheldon, Alexandra has worked to apply an interdisciplinary lens to exhibition and collections research, and is interested in the ways objects “speak” to one another to create new and evolving perspectives on the past.