Dollie Boyd appointed interim director of Museum Program and Studies at Tusculum College; Collins assumes new role
Dollie Boyd has been appointed interim director of the Department of Museum Program and Studies at Tusculum College effective July 1. In her new role, Boyd will oversee the operations of the museums of Tusculum College, including the Doak House Museum and President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library, as well as the College Archives.
She will also continue to be responsible for the development and implementation of on-site and outreach curriculum-based school programs offered through the Doak House Museum. The museum offers a variety of educational programs throughout the academic year for school groups and home-schooled children. It hosts thousands of children annually.
Boyd joined the staff of the department in September 2009 as manager of school programs. In this position she developed several new curriculum-based offerings for the public and home-school audiences. A native of Franklin County, Tenn., Boyd taught grades 9-12 from 1994 to 2007, served as a graduate research assistant at the Albert Gore Research Center and was an interpretive ranger at Tims Ford State Park.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in speech and theater with minors in education and history from Middle Tennessee State University and is a candidate for her master’s degree in history/public history from MTSU as well. Boyd has also made several professional presentations including to the National Council of Public History and Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference.
In addition, she conducted research and an oral history project on three lost communities in Franklin County which were inundated through the creation of a Tennessee Valley Authority lake.
Boyd’s appointment follows the retirement of George Collins after forty-one years in education and non-profit management. Collins joined Tusculum College as director of Museum Program and Studies in 2000. Prior to joining the staff, he had served as acting president and vice president of operations at Genesee Country Village and Museum, director of programming at the New York State Historical Association, director of historical interpretation and director of human resource development at Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
Over the past ten years, Collins has managed and instructed in the Museum Studies degree program, one of the few in the country. During his tenure, the museum studies program has grown as have educational programs for schools and the general public.
Under Collins’ direction, seven major exhibits have been developed and opened for the community. Collins responsibilities included working to obtain support for the museums which, among other initiatives, has led to the on-going preservation of the Doak House Museum and the President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library.
“He has been a tireless advocate on preserving and presenting the history of Tusculum College,” said Dr. Kim Estep, provost and academic vice president.
Effective July 1, Collins has been appointed museum program adviser. In this new part-time role, he will provide assistance in operational transitions, instruct in selected Museum Studies courses, work with adjunct instructors, provide presentations in select programs and assist in developing funding support for the museums.
“We welcome Dollie to her new role and wish George the best during his retirement. We are pleased that he has agreed to continue to support the museums and the college with his experience and knowledge,” said Estep.
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