Delaware Humanities board members appointed

Gov. John Carney recently appointed four new members to the serve on Delaware Humanities board of directors.

Ruthi Adams Joseph, Harry Brake, Devon Filicicchia and Heidi Nasstrom Evans are all beginning their first term and will serve with the humanities council until June 2025.

A Bridgeville native with a family history of public service, Joseph is retired from a career in social services and now resides in Millsboro. She serves on the boards of the Delaware State Fair and Delaware Agricultural Museum.

Brake is a Woodbridge High School library media specialist, cross country coach and student in Florida State University's master of information science program. He will serve as the incoming Delaware Association of School Librarians president and is a blogger and freelance writer for EveryLibrary.org. With 14 years as an English educator and 11 years as a certified librarian, he continues to serve as a student/educator liaison for project-based learning.

Filicicchia is lead interpreter at the Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes for the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs. She earned her bachelor’s degree in art history from the University of Delaware and has also worked at the Milton Historical Society. She resides in Kent County.

Heidi Nasstrom Evans earned her doctorate in American studies from the University of Maryland College Park. She teaches with the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design, and is a senior associate of research and development at Horizon Philanthropic Services in Lewes. She previously worked as curator for the Milton Historical Society. She lives in Rehoboth with her family.

These four new members join 19 other board of directors members from all three counties. The board of directors provides strategic and fiscal leadership for Delaware Humanities. Members serve a three-year term, renewable once. Those interested in serving as board members should contact Executive Director Michele Anstine.

The state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Delaware Humanities provides educational and cultural opportunities to Delawareans through original programming and grants for nonprofit organizations.