Ann Marie Willer, Director of Preservation Services
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Ann Marie Willer has worked as a professional in the field of cultural heritage preservation since 2002. She has expertise in preservation program management, digitization workflows and best practices, the preservation of paper-based and audiovisual materials, and emergency preparedness and response. Under her oversight, the Preservation Services department provides guidance and instruction to institutions and individuals across the United States on the preservation of paper-based, photographic, digital, and audiovisual collections. She also cultivates connections to heritage institutions and related organizations and collaborates on projects of mutual benefit. At NEDCC, Ann Marie has served as Principal Investigator on grants totaling $3 million. In addition to managing the department’s budget, Ann Marie provides project management for awarded grants and for client jobs of significant scope.
In her role as Director of Preservation Services, Ann Marie has conducted general preservation assessments for heritage institutions across the country, from Maine to Washington, including a community-wide preservation assessment for a town in Massachusetts. She has provided customized consultations and trainings (online and in-person) on topics such as collection security, emergency preparedness and response, environmental management, grant writing, preparing for renovation projects, and storage of audiovisual collections. Ann Marie has presented at national and regional conferences on a wide range of topics including diversity and inclusion in libraries and archives, digital preservation assessment, audiovisual preservation, and preservation administration.
Ann Marie previously served as Preservation Librarian for the MIT Libraries and the University of North Texas Libraries and has pre-professional experience in special collections, exhibits, cataloging, and general collections conservation. She earned an MS in Library Science from the University of North Texas, an MA in Musicology from the Eastman School of Music, and a certificate from Rutgers’ Preservation Management Institute.
Alison Fulmer, Associate Preservation Specialist
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Alison Fulmer provides training programs, assessments, consultations, and disaster assistance to cultural heritage organizations nationwide. Since joining Preservation Services in 2021, she has completed eleven assessments and taught over 70 hours of workshops, webinars, and web courses on physical collection preservation, digital preservation, audiovisual preservation, and emergency preparedness. She has developed content for the webinar “10 Practical Steps for Getting Started with Digital Preservation” and has customized emergency preparedness workshops to include activities such as disaster plan review, collection wet salvage demonstrations, and disaster scenario tabletop exercises.
Alison has nine years of archives experience, including work with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the City of Somerville (MA), the Boston Carmelite Monastery, Chatham University, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Alison earned a BA in Archaeology and a BA in Anthropology from The George Washington University and an MLIS with a concentration in Archives and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh. She is certified by the Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA) and holds a Digital Archives Specialist Certificate from the Society of American Archivists (SAA).
Stephanie Garafolo, Associate Preservation Specialist
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Stephanie Garafolo provides preservation information and outreach, including assessments, consultations, training programs, and disaster assistance for cultural heritage organizations of all types. Since joining the Preservation Services department in 2019, she has completed 25 assessments and consultations and taught over 60 workshops, webinars, and web courses on audiovisual preservation, digital preservation, physical collections care, and emergency preparedness. She has developed content for new webinars in response to community and client needs, including “Celebrate with Collections! Utilizing Collections in Your Community’s Anniversary Celebration” and “COVID-19 and Collections Care.” In 2021, Stephanie served as the project manager and lead instructor for a four-month emergency preparedness course for California cultural heritage organizations. She currently represents NEDCC on the COSTEP MA Executive Committee and serves as a Museum Assessment Program (MAP) Peer Reviewer for the American Alliance of Museums.
Stephanie has ten years of museum experience, and her past roles include working with contemporary artists and site-specific installations at Le Laboratoire Cambridge, craft objects and archives at the Fuller Craft Museum, and Armenian material culture at the Armenian Museum of America in Watertown. She earned a BA in Political Science from Boston University and a Master of Liberal Arts in Museum Studies from Harvard University Extension School.
Eli Boyne, Preservation Specialist
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From her office in New Orleans, Louisiana, Eli Boyne provides consultations, training programs, assessments, and disaster assistance to a variety of cultural heritage organizations nationwide with a focus on the Midwest and Southeast region of the United States. Since joining NEDCC in 2021, she has completed 9 assessments and consultations, working with academic libraries, digital and audio archives, historic home museums, regional digital library consortia, and a federally recognized tribal nation. She has taught in-person workshops in audio preservation and collections care, and has led over 30 hours of webinars and presentations, including co-teaching NEDCC’s Preservation 101 course. She has developed content for new webinars including “Writing a Preservation Plan,” “Digitization: Planning for Success,” and “How to Host a Community Scanning Day.” Eli was recently awarded a DPOE-N Microgrant to complete the Society of American Archivists’ Digital Archives Specialist certificate.
Eli has a combined 10 years of experience working in museums, archives, and libraries. She has managed the rare book collection at Tulane University, served as a conservation technician for the Stanford University Libraries, and has consulted with institutions in the Gulf South to manage and create their preservation programs. Eli earned an MA in Library Science from the University of Iowa and an MFA in Book Arts from the University of Iowa's Center for the Book.
Tara Puyat, Preservation Specialist
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From her office near Eugene, Oregon, Tara Puyat provides consultations, training programs, assessments, and disaster assistance to a variety of cultural heritage organizations nationwide, with a focus on the western United States. In 2022, Tara presented or co-presented webinars on collections security, audiovisual collections, emergency preparedness, environmental monitoring, and renovation and moving projects as well as NEDCC’s popular Preservation 101 web course. She conducted customized training sessions for the Seattle Heritage Emergency Response Network, and she assisted her colleagues with a number of preservation assessments.
Prior to her tenure at NEDCC, Tara worked or interned in museums with cultural and natural history collections in Oregon and Alaska and was a student employee in the Beach Conservation Lab of the University of Oregon Knight Library. She most recently served as Collections Manager at the Lane County History Museum in Eugene, OR, where her work included environmental monitoring, integrated pest management, cataloging, and artifact housing initiatives. Tara formerly volunteered with the Oregon Heritage MentorCorps, providing preservation advice to institutions throughout Oregon. She also has extensive experience as a math, science, and music teacher. Tara holds an MA in Preventive Conservation from Northumbria University in the UK as well as a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies and an MA in Musicology from the University of Oregon. She has earned additional degrees in music performance and chemical engineering and is fluent in English and Filipino/Tagalog.
Hillary Ellis, Lead Emergency Preparedness Consultant
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Hillary Ellis leads the "Ready—or Not" Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Project, an initiative to assess emergency preparedness at California organizations that care for cultural and historic resources (e.g., archives, libraries, museums, and tribal nations). In this role, Hillary supervises a state-wide team of consultants and conducts on-site emergency preparedness assessments. The project is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.
Hillary holds an MA of Art Conservation, Paintings, from Queen’s University. Prior to her tenure at NEDCC, she worked as a conservator in private practice. Most recently Hillary served as Director of Conservation at the Strong National Museum of Play, where she assisted with updating the disaster plan, developed a digital preservation policy, and worked to improve collections environmental monitoring and storage conditions. Hillary is a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC).
Celeste Knight, Outreach and Travel Coordinator
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From her office in Albuquerque, NM, Celeste Knight provides outreach and travel support for the "Ready—or Not" Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Project, which provides emergency preparedness assessments to California organizations that care for cultural and historic resources (e.g., archives, libraries, museums, and tribal nations). Celeste is a museum professional who has worked in guest experience and education with the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and the University of New Mexico Art Museum. She holds an BA in Communication with a concentration in Intercultural Communication from the University of New Mexico and is fluent in English and Spanish.
Mario Anthony Gallardo, Emergency Preparedness Consultant
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As part of the "Ready—or Not" Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Project, Mario Anthony Gallardo provides emergency preparedness assessments to California organizations that care for cultural and historic resources (e.g., archives, libraries, museums, and tribal nations). Based in Los Angeles, CA, Mario is a Library and Archives professional who contributed to the International Digital Ephemera Project at UCLA’s Charles E. Young Research Library, worked as a records specialist at LACMA’s Balch Art Research Library, handled and reorganized collections at Loyola Marymount University’s Archives and Special Collections, and processed collections in Library Special Collections at UCLA’s Center for Primary Research and Training. He holds an MLIS with a specialization in Archival Studies from University of California, Los Angeles and is fluent in English and Spanish.
Jason Partida, Emergency Preparedness Consultant
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As part of the "Ready—or Not" Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Project, Jason Partida provides emergency preparedness assessments to California organizations that care for cultural and historic resources (e.g., archives, libraries, museums, and tribal nations). From his office in Merced, CA, Jason has traveled to Southern, Central, and Northern California to work with organizations ranging from CA State Parks, universities, archives, museums, and historical societies. Jason is a museum professional with five years’ experience working in various roles with the California State Capitol Museum, including responsibilities related to environmental monitoring, exhibit installation, facilities projects, integrated pest management, and staff training. He holds an MA in Public History from California State University at Sacramento and is fluent in English and Spanish.
Özge Gençay Üstün, Emergency Preparedness Consultant
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As part of the "Ready—or Not" Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Project, Özge Gençay Üstün provides emergency preparedness assessments to California organizations that care for cultural and historic resources (e.g., archives, libraries, museums, and tribal nations). Based in Los Angeles, CA, Özge is a conservation professional with 15 years of experience working with archaeological and indigenous collections, most recently at the Autry Museum of the American West, where her responsibilities included environmental monitoring, integrated pest management, collections conservation, repatriation, and research. She holds an MA in UCLA/Getty Interdepartmental Program in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage and is a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC). Özge is fluent in English and Turkish.
Caroline Whyler, Emergency Preparedness Consultant
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As part of the "Ready—or Not" Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Project, Caroline Whyler provides emergency preparedness assessments to California organizations that care for cultural and historic resources (e.g., archives, libraries, museums, and tribal nations). Based in Sacramento, CA, Caroline has experience in collections management, exhibit design, and installation. Prior to her tenure at NEDCC, she was the Artifacts and Exhibits Manager for The Vacaville Museum and was previously part of a multi-disciplinary team with the California State Capitol Museum that focused on collections management and exhibit design. She holds an MA in History and an MA in Public History from California State University, Sacramento.
Victoria Wong, Emergency Preparedness Consultant
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As part of the "Ready—or Not" Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Project, Victoria Wong provides emergency preparedness assessments to California organizations that care for cultural and historic resources (e.g., archives, libraries, museums, and tribal nations). Based in Sacramento, Victoria has conducted emergency preparedness consultations from Santa Ana to Eureka. She is a book and paper conservator who most recently worked for Princeton University Libraries and has completed internships at Yale University, University of Hong Kong Libraries Preservation Centre, and the Walters Art Museum. She gained library preservation experience over five years at the Museum of Modern Art Library (New York) and holds an MS in Art Conservation from University of Delaware. Victoria is an Associate of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and member of the National Heritage Responders (NHR).