Our Team

Museum Hours
It’s Saturday 10:49 pm — Sorry, we’re closed
Monday – Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday – Saturday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Museum Staff

Executive Director

Sean FitzGibbons

Sean FitzGibbons has more than ten years of experience as a leader in museums and non-profit institutions. As Senior Exhibits Analyst for the City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts and Culture, he led community programs and managed the Centro de Artes and Culture Commons art galleries. He has also served as Executive Director for both the Meadows Museum of Art at Centenary College in Shreveport, LA and Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park in Hamilton, OH. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and his Master of Fine Arts degree from Washington University in St. Louis. FitzGibbons is passionate about community outreach, cultural storytelling, and making the humanities accessible to diverse communities. Sean, his wife, Amber and children Maggie and Elliott are relocating to the Springfield area from St. Louis, MO.

Business Manager

Charlotte McCoy

Charlotte McCoy brings 30 years of communication/marketing experience to the History Museum on the Square. After graduating with a master’s degree in Communications from the University of Missouri-Columbia, she and her husband, Scott, relocated with his career for 10 years before moving back to Missouri. While moving, Charlotte was able to continue with her career in various industries, including consumer packaged goods, retail, and fast food. Scott and Charlotte were able to move back to Missouri and call Springfield home in 1998. Charlotte spent 15 years as Marketing/Special Events Director at Discovery Center of Springfield and recently was Partnership Strategist with GigSalad.

Curator

Joan Hampton-Porter

Joan Hampton-Porter is responsible for the care of approximately 100,000 artifacts in the museum’s collection. She curates and constructs approximately 3 to 4 exhibits per year. She gives lectures and programs as needed. Joan has an M.A. in History with an emphasis in Museum Studies from the University of Missouri, St. Louis, and a B.A. in Middle School Education with an emphasis in Social Science and Language Arts from Fontbonne College.

Museum Educator

Whitney Mosley

As Museum Educator, Whitney Mosley shares her love for learning with visitors of all ages and backgrounds. Her involvement with the History Museum on the Square began in 2020, working as the Diversity and Inclusion intern and, later, as a volunteer for educational programs and presentations. A local to southwest Missouri, she graduated from Missouri State University with a B.A. in Art History and an Undergraduate Certificate in Museum Studies. She officially joined the museum team in 2021 as Visitor Experience Associate before taking on her current role. Whitney is passionate about public education and is an advocate for accessibility and diversity in museums. She is delighted to help provide educational resources for her community and is proud to help share the history of Springfield and Greene County with such engaged audiences.

Civics Education Coordinator

Jill Hodge

Jillian Hodge has joined the History Museum on the Square as the Civics Education Coordinator to develop, coordinate, and implement citizenship programs that will serve the community. This program is being funded through the Musgrave Citizenship Grant.

Jill has a BA in History and Education from Drury University and an MA in English from MSU, and brings 19 years of teaching experience in both formal and informal education.
She has enjoyed teaching learners of all ages while working at local public schools, Universities, the Discovery Center of Springfield, and volunteering for Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland.

Collections & Exhibits Manager

Sarah Dotson

Sarah Dotson attended Missouri State University where she earned a BA in Art History and a BA in Visual Art and Culture with an emphasis in Museum Studies. Sarah worked as an Art History Area Assistant and Grant Research Assistant while attending MSU and completed internships with Christian County Museum, Springfield Art Museum, and Springfield Regional Arts Council. Her research has been featured in the Christian County Historian newsletter and several public exhibitions. Sarah has presented papers at the MSU Annual Intercollegiate Art History Symposium, Springfield’s First Friday Art Talk series, the Society for American Archaeology Annual Meeting, and the Missouri Archaeological Society Annual Meeting.

Executive Director Emeritus

John Sellars

John Sellars is a native Springfieldian who was executive director of the History Museum on the Square from 2005-2022. In March 2022, he became Executive Director Emeritus. He began his career with the museum as a volunteer when it began as a part of the bicentennial celebration in 1976. After his retirement from a career in marketing in the beverage industry, John returned to Springfield and retired in 2004. He and his wife, Jane, a retired schoolteacher, have five children and seven grandchildren.

Board of Trustees

Executive Board

President - Mary Haseltine McQueary
Vice President - Karen Horny
Secretary - Carol Chappell
Treasurer - Kyle Hesemann

Members at Large

Jan Fisk
Mark Hecquet
Jeff McNatt
Jeff Munzinger
Tom Peters
Linda Robertson
Ben Shantz
James Tucker