Rogers hires new museum director

ROGERS — The Rogers Historical Museum has a new director nearly a year after its last director resigned.

Serena Barnett will begin the job Dec. 9, according to a news release from the city. She worked for the museum from 2002-08 as an assistant, according to her resume.

“Serena captured our attention with her vision and enthusiasm for Rogers and the museum. She knows the importance of the museum as an anchor in our downtown growth,” Mayor Greg Hines said in the news release.

The museum has been without a director since December, when it opened in the renovated Hailey Ford/Rogers Morning News building at 313 S. Second St. John Burroughs oversaw the move to the new building before he resigned. He was director since 2013.

“She just had the personality and the drive to do the job,” said Mike Whitmore, chairman of the Museum Commission. He added she asked commission members what they were looking for in a director. He said the commissioners would like to see the new director work to get the community more involved in the museum and incorporate more technology.

Whitmore said the commission also wanted Barnett for the job because of her education and experience.

Barnett has a master’s degree in museum studies from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Arkansas, according to her resume.

Barnett worked for the Pea Ridge National Military Park in Garfield for five years, first as a visitor use assistant. She developed guided tours among other responsibilities, according her resume. She went on to supervise the museum store.

She has also worked as an archivist and collections assistant for the Tulsa Historical Society and as visitor services and museum store

associate at the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Okla., according to her resume.

Hines hires department heads for the city, but the commission also met with candidates for museum director. Hines previously said he wanted to hire a director who has the management and budgeting skills necessary for the job.

Barnett was one of 22 applicants in the city’s second search for a director. Twenty-nine people applied in the first search from late May to early August, but the candidate to whom the city offered the job turned it down.

Barnett’s salary will be $60,320, according to an email from Thomas Dunlap, human resources director for the city.