Sarah Hall, Executive Director

Sarah Hall, became director of the WCMFA in July 2020 and brings to the museum nearly 30 years of experience with museums and exhibitions. Joining the museum in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sarah worked to increase the museum’s variety of online programming, while also stabilizing and strengthening the exhibition program. Under Sarah’s leadership the museum has embarked on its first professionally-led Master Planning process in its 90-year history and had its most successful Annual Fund. Prior to joining WCMFA, Sarah was chief curator and director of collections at The Frick Pittsburgh, where she directed the curatorial department for thirteen years of a 25-year tenure. In this role, she oversaw the care, exhibition, and interpretation of the Frick’s permanent collection and temporary exhibitions. Hall has been responsible for leading major grant-funded historic preservation, conservation, and exhibition projects, including work on historic structures as well as collection objects. She has extensive experience with museum education, staff training, and public programming. Hall has taken graduate coursework in nonprofit organizational leadership at Robert Morris University and also did graduate study in arts and humanities at the State University of New York at Buffalo, specializing in film history, media studies, and creative writing. She is a graduate of Leadership Washington County, Class 35.

To reach Sarah, email her at sjhall@wcmfa.org

 Nancy Motherway, Business Manager 

Nancy Motherway attended Bentley College, Walthan, Massachusetts, where she received an Associate of Science in Accountancy and a Bachelor of Science in Finance. Nancy is a Member of the Bentley College Falcon Society, Bentley College. Before joining the WCMFA she was the Business Finance Manager for the Friends Meeting School, Ijamsville, Maryland, and St. John Regional Catholic School, Frederick.

To reach Nancy, email business@wcmfa.org

Donna Rastelli,  Manager of Visitor and Volunteer Services 

Donna Rastelli has been with the museum since 2002 as a secretary and services coordinator. Today, she is the museum’s Manager of Visitor & Volunteer Services. She handles general membership, works closely with volunteers, assists visitors, takes registrations, and coordinates volunteers for events. She holds an associate degree from Hagerstown Business College. She also serves on the Little Cove Stone Church and Mt. Zion Lutheran Church boards.

To reach Donna, email drastelli@wcmfa.org

Elizabeth Smith,  Director of Development

A Washington County native,  Elizabeth “Beth”Smith was most recently  the Community Engagement and Development Manager at Potomac Case Management Services, where she has overseen brand awareness, community partnerships, grant funding and reporting, and led the team in securing more than 80% of the organization’s annual budget ($6-7 million). In a prior position at WaterAid America, she coordinated a $2.5 million portfolio aligning programmatic priorities with donor interests. While there, she developed a reputation for relationship-building, fostering communication between employees and donors, and stewarding and renewing grant support. She holds a Master of Arts in sustainable international development from Brandeis University and an undergraduate degree in sociology with a minor in mathematics.

To reach Beth, email esmith@wcmfa.org

Dr. Daniel Fulco, Agnita M. Stine Schreiber Curator 

Dr. Daniel Fulco received his PhD and Master of Arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was a Distinguished Fellow from 2007‒2010. He has held positions at the New Britain Museum of American Art, Phillips Collection, and the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. In addition, Daniel has taught art history at the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and in the Lifelong Learning Program at Shepherd University. He is a scholar of European and American art and has authored a book, numerous exhibition catalogs, book chapters, and articles.

He can be reached at curator@wcmfa.org

Kellie Marz Mele, Director of Education

Kellie Marz Mele holds a Master in Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Grand Canyon University, a Bachelor of Science in Art Education from Kutztown University, and a Maryland Advanced Professional Teaching Certification: Art, K-12. Kellie was an art educator with Washington County Public Schools for 10 years, Museum Literacy Coordinator for seven years, and Educational Engagement Coordinator for five years.  As Director of Education, Kellie focuses on creating an inclusive atmosphere in museum spaces and programs through collaborations in the community.  Driven by the deep passion and belief that everyone deserves art, she develops programming to enrich the entire community’s lives. She is a member of Leadership Washington County, Class 36.

She can be reached at educator@wcmfa.org.

Crystal Schelle, Director of Marketing and Communications

A Washington County native, Crystal Schelle received her Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts from Hagerstown Junior College and a Bachelor of Arts in Print Journalism from Morehead State University in Kentucky. She has more than 35 years of experience as an award-winning editor, reporter, photographer, and videographer. She has worked for The Journal, The Herald-Mail and the Frederick-News Post. After leaving journalism full-time, Crystal worked in public relations and was an on-air reporter for WJEJ radio in Hagerstown. In her spare time, she continues to be a freelance writer and has had her work published at local, regional, and national levels. She currently teaches journalism at Frederick (Md.) Community College. She is a graduate of Leadership Washington County, Class 29.

She can be reached at cschelle@wcmfa.org.

Sarah Wolfe, Manager of Exhibitions & Collections

Growing up eating at the table that belonged to her fourth great-grandmother, a grandfather who loved family genealogy, and a mother with a 12-pound Howitzer cannon with carriage in the living room, you could say she was destined to choose the care and interpretation of objects as her career. A Colorado State University, East Carolina University graduate, and the Corcoran College of Art & Design, she began her career cataloging and photographing objects at the Maryland Archeological Conservation Center. For over a decade, Sarah cared for the collections and exhibitions at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia, and then at George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia. At the Museum of Aviation, Sarah was the project lead in the successful accreditation with the American Alliance of Museums and drafted plans and policies used by the National Museum of the Air Force for all their field museums. She loves to combine the detailed organization needed for registration work with the creativity and hands-on work needed with exhibitions and has worked on more than 35 exhibitions. The “Down to Earth: The 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment” exhibition she worked on won the 2009 Southeastern Museum Conference Exhibition Competition Award of Excellence; Air Force Heritage Award; Air Force Materiel Command Excellence in Heritage Projects award; and the Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries Museum Exhibition of the Year.

To reach Sarah W. , email swolfe@wcmfa.org.

Christina Nemir, Executive Assistant

Christina Nemir believes in the positive power of art and the enduring impact it has on communities. She brings 30 years of experience working in Washington County and a background in art and design to the museum. She took some of her first art classes at the museum, and she continues to expand her education in art to this day. As Executive Assistant, Christina provides logistical support and coordinates scheduling and communications for Director Sarah Hall and museum staff. Her role covers a broad scope of tasks that enable her to apply her administrative experience, customer service, and artistic skills, helping to ensure that museum operations run smoothly. Christina cultivates a friendly and inclusive environment and proudly represents such a distinctive museum. She likes to engage with visitors, members, and volunteers to ensure that everyone’s visit to the museum is an enriching experience. She looks forward to the museum’s growth and being able to make a measurable difference in the community and beyond

Christina can be reached at cnemir@wcmfa.org