Appointment of Dr. Catherine Kelly as Omohundro Institute Executive Director
I am delighted to announce that Dr. Catherine Kelly has accepted the position of Executive Director of the Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture (OI). Cathy has served as the OI’s Editor of Books since 2018 and took on the role of Interim Executive Director upon the departure of Karin Wulf in October 2021. In her new position, effective July 1, 2022, Cathy will serve as chief administrative officer for the OI’s scholarly programs and operations dedicated to building intellectual infrastructure for research into Vast Early America.
Prior to joining the OI, Cathy was L.R. Brammer Jr. Presidential Professor of History at the University of Oklahoma and editor of the Journal of the Early Republic. Her scholarship, including two published books, focuses on the experiences of eighteenth and nineteenth American women. As OI’s Editor of Books, she oversaw the acquisition of seventeen books, including the award-winning Voices of the Enslaved: Love, Labor, and Longing in French Louisiana. Read the OI's announcement for additional information about Cathy's professional accomplishments.
I am thrilled to welcome Cathy as both the Executive Director and a member of our History faculty. Her deep knowledge and collaborative spirit, coupled with her leadership acumen already demonstrated during her time as Book Editor and Interim Executive Director, will ensure that the partnership between the OI, William & Mary, Colonial Williamsburg, and many other organizations will thrive and flourish.
I also extend my deep gratitude to the members of the search committee, the OI staff and Board of Directors, William & Mary’s History Department, President and CEO of Colonial Williamsburg Cliff Fleet, and our partners in the Office of the Dean of Arts & Sciences and Human Resources for the time, effort, and collaboration they devoted to make the recruiting and hiring process a success.
Ann Marie Stock, Ph.D.
Presidential Liaison for Strategic Cultural Partnerships
Chancellor Professor of Modern Languages & Literatures
