Susan Hellman Email & Phone Number

Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria, Va

Direct all operations of this National Register-listed historic house museum and garden. Manage 18 employees and 80 volunteers; oversee facilities, maintenance, conservation, and budget; ensure best preservation practices; develop and maintain resources; supervise educational and interpretive programs, as well as rentals and site functions; create innovative programs and interpretation to attract new audiences; ensure proper collections management; certify that site complies with all local historic district ordinances and state easement policies. Represent site for all media inquiries, including television and radio interviews.

Alexandria, Va

Responsible for all aspects of the operation and preservation of this site, which includes a National Historic Landmark, a National Register-listed museum, and several outbuildings. Duties include the Deputy Director’s duties outlined below. Other duties include financial management; supervision of 30+ employees; strategic planning; ensuring appropriate maintenance and conservation of the site’s 126 acres and 20 buildings; moving site away from the traditional historic house museum model towards innovative and financially sustainable uses. Conduct in-depth research on the history of the site, broadening its interpretation.

Alexandria, Va

Work with the Director to provide leadership in operations and strategic plan implementation; coordinate preservation and development activities with local, state, and federal agencies; provide content support for public programs and development activities and initiatives. Create and oversee all interpretive content and educational programming; supervise all volunteers and hourly staff; oversee the care, organization, and accessibility of curatorial and archival collections; act as site archivist and historian. Act as the site’s primary outreach officer and advise on matters related to preservation, land use and development; support revenue-generating programs and activities at the site; manage the partnership with the Arcadia Center for Food and Sustainable Agriculture.

In the Department of Planning and Zoning: Responsible for all research, documentation, photography, survey, and inquires regarding properties listed on the Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites and the Historic Structures file, approximately 1500 structures. Reviewed rezoning and special exception applications, Historic Structures Reports, and Cultural Landscape Reports; recommended updates relating to Heritage Resources in the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan; participated in Section 106 reviews. In the City of Fairfax Regional Library Virginia Room: In addition to assisting customers with research, also served as a resource for Section 106 review. Managed cemetery and historic landmarks files, mapping and documenting all sites. Curated rare book, manuscript, map, and historic photographs collections.

Provided consulting, research, architectural survey, and editing services to several individuals and organizations. Projects included, but were not limited to: editing a local history book; researching and writing an in-depth architectural history of an 1807 dwelling; writing National Register nominations, and expanding a house museum's historical interpretation, the results of which were featured in "Preservation" magazine.

M.A., Architectural History

Bachelor'S Degree, Political Science; Latin American Studies

Activities and Societies: Cum Laude

Education record