Sara Moore (Co-Chair)

Sara Moore is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Salem State University, where she teaches classes on gender, sexuality, health and well-being, family life, and activism. With a background in community-based participatory research, Sara encourages her students to collaborate with community partners beyond the university to identify and examine social inequalities and create meaningful social change. In valuing multiple forms of local and expert knowledge, Sara’s approach builds bridges between universities and communities. She is a member of several organizations in Salem, including the Salem Education Foundation, the Food Policy Council, and the Board of Health. Sara earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Shepherd University, a master’s degree in sociology from The New School, and a Ph.D. in Sociology from George Mason University.

Fara Wolfson (Co-Chair)

Fara Wolfson has been an educator committed to equity and social justice for 25 years. For the past two decades, she has written curricula focused on civil rights, race, gender and social justice. Whether in the classroom or standing up for social justice in the streets or through community organizations, Fara is grateful for many sources of inspiration. She graduated with an Honors Degree and BA in African-American Studies and Women’s Studies from Brown University and an MS in Special Education from Johns Hopkins University. In her spare time, she enjoys travel with family in search of labyrinths, street art, and coffee shops.

Dan Lipcan (Treasurer)

Dan Lipcan is a candlepin bowler, paddleboarder, jaywalker, and librarian, currently the Ann C. Pingree Director of the Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum. He leads a talented staff charged with stewarding and sharing the library’s extensive collection of books, archives, ships’ journals, broadsides, and ephemera. Dan joined the PEM in 2019 after a sixteen-year tenure at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Watson Library. He serves VAI as Co-Chair of the Memorial Committee and he is a member of the Art Libraries Society of North America's Anti-Racism Task Force.

Jillian Willis (Clerk)

Jillian Willis has a passion for learning and is a firm believer that understanding history can help us to be more aware of injustices going on all around us. Jillian is a cancer survivor of 6 years and uses her survivorship as motivation to make the most out of every day. She was born in Modesto, California and moved to Salem, Massachusetts after participating in National Student Exchange at Salem State University in 2019. During her time in Salem, she interned for the Peabody Essex Museum where she now works as a Visitor Engagement Advocate. Before moving she received her BA in History from California State University Chico where she also earned a certificate in Museum Studies. Jillian is now working towards her MA in Public History at Salem State while also working as a graduate assistant for the Center for Research and Creative Activities.

Ana Brea

Ana Brea is an educator, art lover and Salem resident. She is a parent to two adult human children and one Golden Retriever. Ms Brea is a native of the Dominican Republic. She graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design as well as Universidad APEC in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She worked as an art teacher in Santo Domingo for 10 years. In the summer of 2004 she returned to Massachusetts. That September she joined the staff at Salem Academy Charter School, where she serves as a Spanish teacher, Curriculum Team Leader and Service Learning Advisor, as well as occasional service travel leader. After years of working with Salem students and feeling closely connected to this community, she became a Salem resident in 2019. As an educator she is committed to working with her peers and students to dismantle systems of oppression and to decolonize curriculum. In her free time she can be found spending time with loved ones, enjoying art, reading, learning how to grow a garden, running, practicing yoga, going on local adventures with her dog, or trying something new.

Steve Carey

Steve Carey has over 30 years of experience in computer technology and has held jobs at Polaroid, Wang Labs, Gartner Group with stints at some mid range and startup companies. He currently works independently as a website developer while easing into retirement. Having navigated his life from a wheelchair since the age of three due to a severe bout with polio in 1955, Steve is fiercely independent, highly mobile, and welcomes life’s ongoing challenges as opportunities to be inspired and connected. He has led courses in communicating across differences and been a consistent voice for inclusivity in communities that embrace and celebrate diversity. As a longtime resident of Chelmsford, he successfully advocated at a town meeting in the early 1990’s to fund and expand the Lowell Transit Authority’s handicapped transportation services into Chelmsford. Steve graduated with a degree in Philosophy from Dartmouth College and has a wide range of interests. He practices yoga and mindfulness and loves to swim, especially during the summer on Cape Cod.

Mathew Chetnik

Mathew Chetnik is the Director of First Year Experience at Salem State University where he develops and oversees initiatives to support students’ transition from high school to college both in and out of the classroom. Working at previous institutions, Mathew has advised campus LGBTQIA+ student organizations, coordinated Safe Zone trainings for faculty, staff, and students, developed a diversity education theatre troupe, and overseen campus and regional student conferences focused on various social justice issues. Mathew earned a bachelor’s degree in english literature and black studies from SUNY New Paltz, and a master’s degree in student development from Appalachian State University.

Rachel Christ-Doane

Rachel Christ-Doane is the Director of Education at the Salem Witch Museum. She holds a BA in Global History from Clark University and an MA in History and Museum Studies from Tufts University. She has been Director of Education at the Salem Witch Museum since 2018, and within this role works with students and teachers, curates the museum’s exhibits, directs staff training, and coordinates the museum’s educational programming.

Jill Christiansen

After attending Rhode Island School of Design, Jill Christiansen embarked on a 30-year marketing and artist management career in the rock-n-roll business, followed by 14 years in book publishing, largely selling non-fiction books to New England accounts. A chance conversation with one of her customers, the Salem Witch Museum store buyer, led to an interview at the museum five years ago. Today, Jill is happily ensconced at the Salem Witch Museum as the Assistant Education Director and Book Buyer for the Museum Store.