Meet the staff

Behind everything we do, there are the museum’s hardworking staff members. Interested in joining the team? Take a look at available opportunities.

Portrait of Shel Burton

Shel Burton

Collections Assistant

Shel BurtonCollections Assistant
Email Shel Burton

Shel Burton is a Collections Assistant at Sandy Spring Museum, where her work focuses on preserving and interpreting the rich Black history of the Sandy Spring community. She is passionate about making historical materials more accessible and engaging for diverse audiences, with a strong commitment to inclusive archival practices. Her academic and professional interests include medical history, particularly the intersections of healthcare, community narratives, and historical memory. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in Library and Information Science at the University of Maryland, where she continues to build skills that support equitable access to information and cultural heritage.

Portrait of Sara Caporaletti

Sara Caporaletti

Operations Director

Sara CaporalettiOperations Director
Email Sara Caporaletti(301) 774-0022 ext. 102

Since beginning at Sandy Spring Museum in 2017, Sara Caporaletti has worked in different roles including Exhibit intern, Archives staff, Exhibit Coordinator, and Assistant to the Executive Director. She is now the Operations Director, creating great experiences for visitors and staff. Sara is also a visual artist who received her Master of Fine Art from American University and her Bachelor of Art in Studio Art and Art History from McDaniel College. Her work is multi-media and connects to aspects of identity and the human body. She has exhibited artwork in various group exhibitions around the DMV area.

Portrait of Kevin Carr

Kevin Carr

Development Coordinator

Kevin CarrDevelopment Coordinator
Email Kevin Carr(301) 774-0022 ext. 120

Kevin is Sandy Spring Museum's Development Coordinator. He comes from a wealth management background and brings to the Museum his wide-ranging experience in philanthropic planning, charitable giving structures, and financial reporting. As an Olney native, and an Eagle Scout from Troop 264, he has long enjoyed visiting Sandy Spring Museum, taking part in its events and programs, and volunteering in the community. In his free time, he loves hiking, snowboarding, and going to local music venues.

Portrait of Lydia Fraser

Lydia Fraser

Archives and Collections Manager

Lydia FraserArchives and Collections Manager
Email Lydia Fraser(301) 774-0022 ext. 113

Lydia Fraser first joined Sandy Spring Museum in 2015 as Collections Manager and, following short hiatus, returned in 2018 to lead the Archives inventory and digitization projects. Lydia holds a Master's degree in Information Studies which she uses to find the nexus among libraries, museums, and archives. She sees the three disciplines working in concert to inform, connect, and increase the accessibility of a community's story. Lydia began her work in museums in the 1990s as an undergraduate at the University of Toronto and has continuously brought a passion to the profession ever since.

Portrait of Yu Jie

Yu Jie

Exhibit & Program Coordinator

Yu JieExhibit & Program Coordinator
Email Yu Jie(301) 774-0022 ext. 148

Yu Jie now serves as the Exhibit & Program Coordinator. She previously served as a museum intern during her graduate studies, later returning as a facilitator after two years abroad before becoming Exhibit Coordinator for one year. Yu holds a Master of Arts in Exhibition Design from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Passionate about community engagement in Montgomery County, she believes museums serve as the space to reinforce empathy, understanding, and exchange.

Portrait of Sandy Malakoff

Sandy Malakoff

Maintenance Coordinator

Sandy MalakoffMaintenance Coordinator
Email the Maintenance Coordinator(301) 774-0022

Bringing nearly five decades of experience in the electrical field, Sandy offers a deep, hands-on understanding of maintenance, operations, and problem-solving in his role as Maintenance Coordinator. Over the course of his career, he has managed teams, trained technicians, and run his own electrical business for more than 20 years. Known for his practical expertise and easygoing people skills, Sandy enjoys keeping things running smoothly and finding solutions to whatever comes his way.

Portrait of Elise Petersen-Deitrick

Elise Petersen-Deitrick

Cultural Heritage Manager

Elise Petersen-DeitrickCultural Heritage Manager
Email the Cultural Heritage Manager(301) 774-0022 ext. 105

Elise Petersen-Deitrick is the Cultural Heritage Manager at Sandy Spring Museum. Elise is a passionate public historian who believes in museums as powerful community resources that can advance equity, empathy, and belonging. Elise has built her career in small, community museums and is now proud to give back to her professional community as an active board member of the Small Museum Association. She holds a master's degree in Heritage Preservation.

Portrait of Patrick Salami

Patrick Salami

Director of Development

Patrick SalamiDirector of Development
Email Patrick Salami(301) 774-0022 ext. 110

Patrick Salami has worked in the nonprofit sector in the UK and US and brings over 15 years of nonprofit leadership to his role as the Director of Development at Sandy Spring Museum. His experience spans the health, education, and community development sectors. Previously, he served as Director of Development & Communications at CentroNia, as the National Chapter Manager for the National Pancreas Foundation, and as Marketing and Fundraising Manager in the HIV/AIDS sector in England (UK). Patrick holds an MA in Marketing Management and is passionate about donor cultivation and building lasting community impact.

Portrait of Tom Webb

Tom Webb

Museum Manager

Tom WebbMuseum Manager
Email the Museum Manager(301) 774-0022 ext. 101

Tom Webb worked as a program facilitator at the museum for three years before stepping into the role of museum manager. A musician and composer, Tom received his Bachelor of the Arts in composition and performance from Earlham College; and is an active participant in several Montgomery County community musical groups. His original works include choral settings, orchestral pieces, and art songs; and have received performances in both the US and abroad. In his spare time, Tom serves as the Clerk of the Interim Meeting at Baltimore Yearly Meeting, the regional Quaker body that serves congregations in the DMV.

Portrait of Scot Weeks

Scot Weeks

Maintenance Assistant

Scot WeeksMaintenance Assistant

Scot Weeks brings extensive experience in home improvement, community service, project management, and workplace safety. As president of A3 Home Improvements, he specializes in accessibility, adaptability, aging-in-place solutions and general home improvements that help people live safely and comfortably in their homes. His background also includes supervising nonprofit home repair projects, coordinating and training volunteers, and delivering public safety and injury-prevention programs. Scot is known for his practical problem-solving, collaborative approach, and commitment to strengthening communities.

Portrait of Allison Weiss

Allison Weiss

Executive Director

Allison WeissExecutive Director
Email Allison Weiss(301) 774-0022 ext. 103

Allison Weiss, Executive Director of Sandy Spring Museum, incorporates into her work a world view she acquired while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa and obtaining a master's degree in cultural anthropology. She sees museums through the lens of a community builder and has made a career of transforming local museums into centers of community engagement. Recognizing that the most valuable learning experience is one that is self-directed, she has paved the way for individuals and organizations to co-create with the museum.

Museum Facilitators.

  • Athena Baker
  • Julia Chan
  • Julie Joanny
  • Johnny Newhouse
  • Jensen Toperzer
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