Valerie Van Kooten is the new director of the Pella Historical Society.
Van Kooten tells KNIA/KRLS News she’s humbled by the opportunity to showcase Pella’s rich history.
“I am so honored because I’ve grown up with the Pella Historical Society and Museums, they’ve always been a part of my life,” she says. “I ended up as a volunteer and years ago, my mom worked as a secretary there when I was in high school, and I’ve been involved in activities there with my kids, so it sort of feels like coming home.”
Alison Limke has been serving as Interim Director after Kathy Miller resigned abruptly less than three weeks before Tulip Time this spring. Limke will return to her role as associate director, one she’s admittedly more comfortable with.
“My favorite part of my job is the exhibits and displays–doing research, planning exhibits and the future exhibits, collection rotation, and preservation,” she says. “So I’ll will get to go back to doing more of those projects.”
Valerie Van Kooten will begin work at the museums in Pella on September 6th. Hear more about the latest from Pella Historical Society on Let’s Talk Pella.