Michele Leopold to join the Mint’s staff in December
Following a six-month national search, Michele Leopold has been hired as the Mint’s new Chief Registrar, playing a key role in overseeing the museum’s collections and exhibitions.
“Michele will bring an extraordinary background to the Mint; we considered some of the top talents in the field from across the nation for this position, but she stood far and above other candidates,” said Kristen Watts, the Mint’s director of collections & exhibitions.
“My career has taken me to many fine institutions around the world, and I consider The Mint Museum to be one of those. I am excited to work with the museum’s outstanding collection and support its ambitious exhibition schedule,” said Leopold. “It is an honor to be a part of such a wonderful team of professionals.”
Leopold brings to the Mint over 20 years of experience in museum logistics, risk management, insurance knowledge, traveling exhibitions, and more. She has worked for institutions including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.; the Atlanta History Center in Atlanta, Georgia; the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida; and the Huntington T. Block Insurance Agency in Washington, D.C., where she supervised a fine art team. Most recently, she joined the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2009 as one of its founding staff members. She helped oversee the planning, construction, and installation of the hall’s exhibitions for its inaugural 2010 opening and has continued to maintain and manage its collections and exhibitions since.
Leopold replaces Martha Mayberry, who retired in May after 36 years on the Mint’s staff. “We are thrilled to welcome someone of Michele’s caliber to The Mint Museum,” said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, President & CEO of the Mint. “We look forward to putting Michele’s many talents to work. Building, and caring for, our collections and exhibitions is paramount to everything we do and Michele will help lead this charge in her new role.”