Meet the Staff

Sarah Richardt, Executive Director

As the Executive Director of small museums and historic preservation agencies since 2013, Sarah understands that telling the stories can impact a community is vital in truthful dialog. She believes that her past experiences directly relate to the mission of the Shelby County Historical Society.

Sarah has worked in a variety of historic genres in her career such as a frame house as part of the Underground Railroad, a Victorian mansion, and a folk art museum. Working in a traditional small museum does not mean traditionally small ideas. She has expanded the history of small museums in a targeted way to dig deeper into the stories that had previously been untold. In her public history position, she has curated a folk art exhibit working with both collectors as well as cultural institutions to bring together public and private art.

email: [email protected]

Alyssa Florey, Collections Manager

Alyssa is a Shelbyville native and DePauw University graduate with a degree in Art History and experience in collections management, museum registration, and inter-departmental collaboration She brings an appreciation of storytelling in all its forms, but also a great concern for the shaping of a more ethical and equitable discipline. She brings experience from The Cleveland Museum of Art and DePauw University’s Richard E. Peeler Art Center.

Her previous position as an Arthur E. Klauser Collections and Community Outreach Fellow allowed her the opportunity to work with the  Registrar of University Exhibitions and Collections at DePauw University. Alyssa assisted in various collections and registration projects and assisted the gallery’s preparator in the installation and de-installation of gallery exhibitions and possess strong skills in art handling, packing, and shipping. Additionally, she was responsible for curatorial projects, such as the exhibition We Love Having You Here: Expressions of Identity in DePauw’s Art Collection, communicating with visiting artists, writing didactic and interpretive content, supervising student volunteers, programming community outreach events, and giving guided tours of the galleries and collections storage.

Prior to that, she served as the Director’s Fellow in Interpretation at the Cleveland Museum of Art, where she was responsible for myriad projects, including writing interpretive, didactic content for the museum’s ArtLens Gallery and Collection Online.

Nicole Collings, Museum Assistant

Nicole, a native of Shelbyville, took on the role of Museum Assistant at the Grover Center in January 2024. Previously, she volunteered at the Grover Center during her school years. In her current position, Nicole performs administrative tasks, supports the director, assists with events, and much more. She brings a diverse range of experience, including dental assisting, gig work, running a treat business, working as a haunted house scare actor, and serving as a barista. Nicole is deeply passionate about preserving Shelbyville’s history.