Indiana State Museum And Historic Sites Adds to Team

Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites has named Amy Ahlersmeyer (pictured) chief marketing officer. She previously served as vice president and chief marketing officer at Conner Prairie. Ahlersmeyer brings more than 30 years of experience in marketing and public relations to the ISMHS and has worked with clients ranging from nonprofits to global Fortune 500 companies. She also serves on several boards, including the IUPUI School of Physical Education and Tourism Management Advisory Council. Ahlersmeyer graduated from Ball State University with a B.S. in Journalism and Political Science. She is the recipient of several distinguished honors, including the Ball State University Benny Award for outstanding service to the university and was named Communicator of the Year by the International Association of Business Communicators. 

Kate Harvey (pictured) has been appointed chief development officer. She most recently served as director of individual giving at Conner Prairie. In that role, she led the annual fund and stewardship program, in addition to raising major gifts for capital projects. Prior to that, Harvey worked at Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs in Bloomington, where she served as associate director of development and obtained a Master of Public Affairs with a concentration in nonprofit management. She also serves as fundraising chair with College Mentors EtC.

Julie Schaefer has been named vice president of marketing and communication. She brings more than 20 years of marketing experience to the job. Schaefer previously worked at Conner Prairie as director of marketing for nearly a decade, and prior to that at Herron School of Art & Design as director of communications for 13 years. She graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University with a B.A. in English and Communications. Schaefer is also involved with the Indiana Parkinson Foundation’s “Choose to Move” organization.

Also, Cathy Donnelly has joined the ISMHS as an exhibit developer. She has nearly 30 years of exhibition and program development expertise. Donnelly previously worked at Conner Prairie, Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Museum of Art and Winterthur Museum & Garden. She holds a B.A. in History and Journalism and an M.A. in History and Museum Studies from Indiana University, Bloomington. Donnelly was chosen as one of the first Creative Renewal Arts Fellows by the Arts Council of Indianapolis in 1999. She also serves on the board for the Boulevard Place Food Pantry.