Crew manifest
Staff & Board directory
Heather Christenbury
Executive Director, Curator & Collections Manager
Heather has been active in the field of museums since 2001. Beginning her work in the field of anthropology, she received her B.A. from the University of Colorado with Summa Cum Laude honors. Her thesis, People of the Spear: Impacts of Development and Conservation on the Maasai Culture was based on her work while living with the Maasai in Tanzania, Africa while also completing archeological field season. Heather moved on to work for the University of Cambridge’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge, England. She also used her time abroad to travel to various countries and archaeological sites to further her knowledge of world cultures. After returning to the United States, Heather completed her M.A. in Museum Studies through the University of Oklahoma.
Heather’s impact on the museum landscape continued to grow as she took on roles at prestigious museums in the Denver area, serving as a consultant, curator, and collections manager. Her journey led her to the Oregon Coast, where she embarked on a new chapter as the Curator of the Coos History Museum in the fall of 2021. Her tenure was marked by significant changes, including the creation of new exhibits and a comprehensive overhaul of the museum’s operations and collections practices. Recognizing her transformative leadership, Heather was appointed as the Executive Director in 2023. In addition to her role at the Coos History Museum, she also contributes to the Oregon Museums Association as a board member, focusing on DEAI initiatives and development.
Contact: director@cooshistory.org
Sire Wren Pro
Museum Educator & Safety Officer
Sire has been volunteering and working at museums since she was 15. Her museum journey began at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, where she volunteered every weekend throughout high school. It was there that she gained experience in education, paleontology, marine biology, taxidermy, and discovered a passion for archaeology. She pursued archaeology and history at the University of Oregon, where she graduated in three years with honors and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. While at the UofO, Sire worked at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History and the Neill Neuroscience Laboratory. She also conducted research on a collection of trade beads from Alaska, presenting her findings at the 2023 National meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. Her history thesis, “Rebellion, Retribution, and Favoritism: The Origins and Impact of Mutiny within the British Admiralty, 1600-1800,” was the culmination of Sire’s passion for both military and maritime history.
Less than a week after graduating Sire moved to Coos Bay to join the Coos History Museum team. She started as the Visitor Experience Manager and became the Museum Educator in January 2024. Beyond her museum career, Sire is an active member of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Audubon Society, and the Nautical Archaeology Society. She is also a PADI certified Rescue Diver. When she isn’t thinking about history, Sire can be found SCUBA diving, birdwatching, or at the airport pursuing her private pilot’s license.
Contact: education@cooshistory.org
Tina Mendizabal
Visitor Experience Manager
Contact: info@cooshistory.org
Andrew McAffee
Bookkeeper & Office Manager
Contact: accounting@cooshistory.org
Eric Sharman
Venue Coordinator
Board of Trustees
Dr. Jared Schmidt
President
Susi Mendizabal
Vice-President
Jeremy Doze
Treasurer
Anne Guerin
Secretary
Paula Bechtold
Courtney Krossman
Samantha Herron
David Laird
Bill Mast
Brian Davis
Our Organization
The Coos County Historical Society, founded in 1891 is a private, not-for-profit organization supported entirely by admission fees, Museum store sales, rentals, memberships, donations, and grants. We are recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service: tax ID # 93-0446513.
You may donate by check or credit card, over the phone or donate online. Donations to the organization are tax-deductible.
We implement our mission through professional staff with the invaluable assistance of our dedicated volunteers.
You can read more about our history here.
