Historical Society of Princeton Names New Executive Director

Princeton, NJ -- Historical Society of Princeton Curator of Collections and Exhibitions Isabel (Izzy) Kasdin has been named as the society’s new Executive Director, according to a post on the society’s website.

"After reviewing a broad pool of talented candidates, we concluded that the person with the most compelling combination of experience, energy, and vision was already working inside the organization," Historical Society of Princeton Board of Trustees President Scott Sipprelle said in the post. "Izzy is very much a known quantity here at HSP, having served the organization since 2007 in a variety of roles including Docent, researcher, and exhibitions assistant."

Kasdin received her BA in History at Princeton University, graduating summa cum laude and earning the Laurence Hutton Prize in History. She also earned the Moses Taylor Pyne Prize, the highest award conferred on an undergraduate student at Princeton University, recognizing a student’s exceptional academic performance, extracurricular leadership, and overall strength of character.

She earned her Masters in Archaeological Heritage and Museums at the University of Cambridge in England as a Gates Scholar.

"I firmly believe in the importance of local history in building community, promoting empathy, and enhancing sense of place,” Kasdin said. "It is an immense honor to lead the charge on these goals at the Historical Society of Princeton, in my own home town. I am bursting with innovative ideas about how we can use our fantastic collections and beautiful farm site to develop diverse public programming that pushes the boundaries of the traditional local history museum model."

Kasdin has worked at the Ford’s Theater Society in Washington, D.C., and the Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. She completed her archaeological field school training in Colonial American material culture at the College of William and Mary in 2011.

"As Curator, Izzy has provided the insight of an historian and the rigor of an academic to the review and formal inventory of HSP's important collections currently underway," Vice President of Collections and Search Committee Member Daniel C. Scheid said. "In her new role, she will use her creativity to link these collections not only to the past but to the exciting history that is being made in Princeton today."