Earlier this month, the Kelsey Museum said goodbye to two wonderful members of its community. We are grateful to Lorene Sterner and Mallory Bower for the time and meaningful work they contributed to the institution.

After a full career with the Kelsey spanning more than four decades, Graphic Designer and Gifts Manager Lorene Sterner retired on Friday, June 9. Lorene’s connections with the Kelsey began in 1978, when she served as a volunteer for the University of Michigan excavation in Carthage, Tunisia. 

Over the years, Lorene provided countless maps and illustrations for the Kelsey; her name dots the image credits of numerous research publications, exhibitions, and other museum- and fieldwork-related projects. As gifts manager, she was responsible for processing gifts for IPAMAA (formerly IPCAA) and for the museum more broadly, including its membership. Lorene’s time at the Kelsey has made her a stronghold of institutional knowledge whose expertise, artistry, and eye for detail will be sorely missed. 

Executive Assistant and Social Media Coordinator Mallory Bower accepted an offer to work as a planner in the city of Detroit’s Housing and Revitalization Department. Her last day was Friday, June 23.

Since joining the Kelsey Museum almost two years ago, Mallory served in the administration office and led numerous operational, organizational, and project-management tasks, including promoting the activities of the Kelsey through social media. A supporter of her colleagues, she enjoyed sharing their successes with the Kelsey’s audience. Mallory also stepped in as interim facilities manager when the museum was without a full-time chief administrator or associate director. The Kelsey community will certainly miss Mallory’s creativity and drive, but we wish her the best in her exciting new role!