Beth Hessel, Ph. D.
Executive Director
Beth Hessel, Ph. D. (she/her) Beth joined the Athenaeum in July, 2019. Previously Executive Director of The Presbyterian Historical Society, a national archive located a few blocks south of the Athenaeum, Beth is also an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) who has served congregations across the U.S. and is a popular speaker who has lectured and taught in corporate, nonprofit, and university settings. She holds a B.A. in history from UC Davis, an MA in U.S. Women’s History from Binghamton University, an M.Div. from San Francisco Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in history from Texas Christian University. Beth loves the spirit-lifting magic of the Athenaeum’s Reading Room and the many opportunities to deepen partnerships with other Philadelphia organizations while creating lasting friendships with the Athenaeum’s many members and friends.
bhessel@philaathenaeum.org
bhessel@philaathenaeum.org
Alexa Perillo
Development & Membership Associate
Alexa Perillo (she/her) Alexa joined the Athenaeum staff in June 2023. She holds a BS in Entertainment and Arts Management from Drexel University. Originally from the Hudson Valley, Alexa is happy to call Philadelphia home! During her free time, she enjoys taking darkroom photography classes at Fleisher Art Memorial, reading, and spending time with her friends and family.
aperillo@philaathenaeum.org
aperillo@philaathenaeum.org
Brice Peterson
Associate Archivist Librarian
Brice Peterson (he/him) Brice joined the Athenaeum staff in 2024, having previously worked in both secondary and post-secondary education. He holds a BA from Brown University, where he studied English Literature and Visual Art; an MLIS from Drexel University; and an MFA from Cornell University. Outside of his work at the Athenaeum, Brice is a practicing studio artist making objects that examine nostalgia, consumerism, and queer identity. He is also a Co-Director of FJORD Gallery, a non-profit artist-run space which curates exhibitions of local and national emerging artists.
*This position is supported by a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania COVID-19 ARPA PA Arts & Culture Recovery Program Grant.
bpeterson@philaathenaeum.org
*This position is supported by a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania COVID-19 ARPA PA Arts & Culture Recovery Program Grant.
bpeterson@philaathenaeum.org
Christina Doe
Building Supervisor
Christina Doe (she/her) Christina joined the Athenaeum team in January 2022. She holds a BFA in Drawing and Printmaking from Moore College of Art and Design, and has more than 16 years experience in managing active public National Historic Landmark buildings housing collections containing art, manuscripts and rare books. Christina is excited to work in an institution where the celebration and preservation of architecture is a part of the mission! In her off hours, Christina is an avid gardener, focusing on native plants, sustainability, and permaculture. She designs, installs, and maintains small private and public gardens in Center City Philadelphia.
cdoe@PhilaAthenaeum.org
cdoe@PhilaAthenaeum.org
Fiona Dawson
Development Database Administrator
Fiona Dawson (she/her) Fiona serves as the part-time database administrator on the Athenaeum's development staff. In her spare time, she enjoys life as an Anglophile, a reader, a Scrabble player, a house rehabber, and a Bruce Springsteen devotee.
fdawson@philaathenaeum.org
fdawson@philaathenaeum.org
Jill LeMin Lee
Librarian
Jill LeMin Lee (she/her) Jill has been at the Athenaeum since 1998, starting behind the scenes, where she oversaw the transition from the old card catalog to the online public access catalog. She moved up to take over the librarian's desk in 2008. She received her undergraduate degree from American University and her MS in Library and Information Science from Drexel University. She enjoys the varied elements in the Athenaeum's collection, such as vintage railroad excursion brochures from the Rupp Transportation Collection.
Our designed bindings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries are also personal favorites. After an opportunity to study them in a session of Rare Book School she revamped the Athenaeum's cataloging procedures to highlight these gems. Jill proudly holds the share held by her predecessor, Ellen Rose. Outside of work she enjoys genealogy, practicing circus aerials, photography, and classic cars.
jilly@PhilaAthenaeum.org
Our designed bindings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries are also personal favorites. After an opportunity to study them in a session of Rare Book School she revamped the Athenaeum's cataloging procedures to highlight these gems. Jill proudly holds the share held by her predecessor, Ellen Rose. Outside of work she enjoys genealogy, practicing circus aerials, photography, and classic cars.
jilly@PhilaAthenaeum.org
Jim Carroll
Imaging Specialist - Regional Digital Imaging Center
Jim Carroll (he/him) Jim Carroll is a photographer, digital imaging specialist, and printer with over 25 years of experience. He has worked in the Regional Digital Imaging Center of The Athenaeum of Philadelphia for twenty years. Jim is also a theater director, producer, actor, and former President of The Players Club of Swarthmore community theater.
jac@PhilaAthenaeum.org
jac@PhilaAthenaeum.org
Kristina Wilson
Gladys Brooks Curator of Architecture
Kristina Wilson (she/her) Kristina joined the Athenaeum staff in February 2024. Previously the Archivist at The Curtis Institute of Music and Archives Manager at Longwood Gardens, Kristina has a BA in History from Penn State University and a MA in Archives and Records Management (International) from University College London. When not immersed in The Athenaeum's archives, Kristina enjoys reading works of Gothic fiction, tackling the Saturday New York Times crossword, and gardening. She lives in Bucks County with her husband and three spoiled fur babies.
kwilson@philaathenaeum.org
kwilson@philaathenaeum.org
Leigh Gallagher
Front Desk & Member Assistant
Leigh Gallagher (she/her) Leigh Gallagher joined the Athenaeum in April of 2024. A proud Californian, she holds a BA from San Francisco State University and an MFA from the University of Michigan. In addition to her work at the Athenaeum she's an art writer for a Los Angeles gallery, and many of her personal writing projects center themes of artmaking and personhood. She's the author of the novel Who You Might Be (Holt, 2022), and spends her free time reading, listening to music, and walking around Philadelphia.
lgallagher@philaathenaeum.org
lgallagher@philaathenaeum.org
Lois Reibach
Resource Description and Access Librarian
Lois Reibach (she/her) Lois has been at the Athenaeum since late 2008. As the Resources Description and Access Librarian, she makes sure that the high-quality data in the library's catalog is rich enough to help members
and researchers find the resources they need. She also ensures that any of our members who wish, have access to our ebooks collection. She earned a BA in English from the University of Texas at Austin and her MLS from Kent State University. Her favorite thing to do is read crime fiction, and she has started a virtual mystery book group so our members and friends can share that interest.
lreibach@PhilaAthenaeum.org
and researchers find the resources they need. She also ensures that any of our members who wish, have access to our ebooks collection. She earned a BA in English from the University of Texas at Austin and her MLS from Kent State University. Her favorite thing to do is read crime fiction, and she has started a virtual mystery book group so our members and friends can share that interest.
lreibach@PhilaAthenaeum.org
MeiXing Hunt-Babcock
Digital Imaging Special Projects Assistant
MeiXing Hunt-Babcock (she/her) assists on special projects in the Regional Digital Imaging Center on a contract basis. She joined the Athenaeum staff in 2023 as a student in Drexel University’s Co-op Program where she is currently in the process of completing her BS in Photography with a minor in Art History. She also holds a Visual Arts Degree from Idyllwild Arts Academy in California, where she is from.
mhuntbabcock@philaathenaeum.org
mhuntbabcock@philaathenaeum.org
Miranda Meketon
Assistant Librarian
Miranda Meketon (she/her) Miranda is new to the Athenaeum, joining the staff in 2022. She holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied psychology, anthropology, and education. During her undergraduate years, she fell in love with library work and decided to pursue it as a career. She holds an MSLIS from Drexel University. A lifelong lover of stories, she will read, watch, or listen to almost any form of media that promises to teach or entertain. Her favorite activity is breaking down the cultural significance and sociopolitical context of whatever she's currently consuming.
mmeketon@PhilaAthenaeum.org
mmeketon@PhilaAthenaeum.org
Patricia Altman
Director of Programs & Engagement
Patricia Altman (she/her) Trisha holds a B.A. from Haverford College and an M.S. in historic preservation from University of Pennsylvania. She worked as a preservation consultant on rehabilitation projects for two decades. A life-long library lover, she also served as President of the Board of Trustees of the Kinderhook Memorial Library in the Hudson Valley, where she previously lived.
paltman@philaathenaeum.org
paltman@philaathenaeum.org
Pemi Aguda
Front Desk Assistant
Pemi Aguda (she/her) Pemi was trained as an architect. She graduated from the University of Michigan's MFA program. Ghostroots, her debut collection of stories, is currently a finalist for the 2024 National Book Award in Fiction.
paguda@PhilaAthenaeum.org
paguda@PhilaAthenaeum.org
Valerie Roche
Front Desk & Member Assistant
Valerie Roche (she/her) Valerie is an Administrative Assistant and is thrilled to be engaged with the Athenaeum community. She holds a BA from Barnard College, an MBA from Cornell University and an AS from Nassau Community College. After having retired from careers in the financial sector and the healthcare industry, she served as an arbitrator for FINRA and she authored a book on Surgical Technology. She has always had a love of libraries and was elected Chair of the Board of the Derry Public Library in Derry, NH. Since recently moving to Philly, she was elected to the Board of her building’s condominium association. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and playing the flute.
vroche@PhilaAthenaeum.org
vroche@PhilaAthenaeum.org
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