Meet Our People

Kelley Curtis

Museum Director

Kelley joined the Museum in February 2024. Her diverse educational and professional background includes museum exhibit research and design, multimedia instructional and web design, online instruction, Russian studies, applied anthropology, and library and information science. Kelley is dedicated to community service and volunteers with several community organizations, while also operating a non-profit dog rescue since 2004. She enjoys dancing, riding her vintage motor scooter, and spending time with her family.

Norma Robinson and the late Joseph Robinson

Executive Board Member

The Museum’s founders retired to Florida from New York in 1997, and settled in Sulphur Springs. As members of the Sulphur Springs Action (SSAL) league, they became community advocates. Joseph served as President of the City of Tampa Enterprise Zone Board, and as a representative on THAN, the Tampa Homeowners Association of Neighborhoods. He also served as President of the Sulphur Springs Alliance, and many other community groups. Joseph passed away in 2021. Norma served as Secretary of SSAL, and her roles in the community have included managing teen programs, working with Cub Master Boys Scouts, tutoring for PCAT (Parents and Children Achieve Together), and participating in the first Mayor’s Neighborhood University. The Robinsons, together with the late Linda Hope, founded the Museum, and Norma volunteered as its Director until January 2022. She maintains a key role in Museum operations.

Antoinette T. Jackson, Ph.D.

Executive Board Member

Antoinette is Professor and Chair of Anthropology at USF, and Director of the USF Heritage Research Lab. Her work centers on critical study of heritage, mostly in the U.S. and Caribbean. She recently completed a 4-year federal appointment as Regional Cultural Anthropologist for the U.S. National Park Service Southeast Region and has won many grants to study heritage issues at specific sites. Her research has been published widely; her most recent book, The Other Side of Leisure: Heritage, Tourism, and Race, was published in 2020. For more information on Dr. Jackson, visit the USF website.

S. Elizabeth Bird, Ph.D.

Executive Board Member

Liz is Professor Emerita and past Chair of Anthropology at USF, where she taught cultural anthropology, folklore, and media studies for over 20 years. Her research focused on media, folklore, and cultural heritage in the U.S. and Nigeria; she has published over 100 articles/chapters, and seven books, including The Asaba Massacre: Trauma, Memory, and the Nigerian Civil War. She now writes for literary magazines; her work can be seen at www.lizbirdwrites.com.

Elizabeth Hapner, Esq.

Executive Board Member

Betsey is attorney/owner at Hapner Law, Tampa, specializing in civil litigation, probate and guardianship and is an active member of Tampa’s philanthropic community.

Joe Robinson

Executive Board Member

A native of NYC, Joseph Jr has lived in Oakland, California; Tampa, Florida; and now a resident of Atlanta, Georgia. His background includes 20+ years in financial services, 15 years as a travel consultant and 5 years information technology with a focus on systems security. In 2021, he retired from the for-profit corporate world and now works for a non-profit organization whose focus is addressing the health concerns of African-American males over the age of 50.

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He notes, “To serve as a Board member for the Sulphur Springs Museum and Heritage Center provides me the opportunity to continue with my father’s dream to bring a rich enlightenment to the Sulphur Springs area.”

Jacqueline Howard

Executive Board Member

Jacqueline brings a wealth of financial expertise and strategic leadership to the Museum. With a strong background in nonprofit financial management, strategic planning, and operational excellence, she has successfully guided organizations through growth and transformation. She currently serves as Vice President of Finance at Fertility Travel, where she built the financial infrastructure for a global healthcare startup, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and efficiency. Previously, she held the role of Director of Finance and Administration at the University of Maryland’s Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, managing a $7.1M operating budget and a $32M endowment portfolio. Her leadership extended beyond finance, overseeing human resources and information systems functions to drive organizational success.

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Jacqueline is passionate about community engagement and supporting educational and cultural initiatives. Her strategic vision and commitment to preserving and promoting history align with the Museum’s mission to share the rich heritage of Sulphur Springs. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the Rochester Institute of Technology and is an active contributor to various nonprofit organizations.

Phyllis Green

Advisory Committee Member

Phyllis holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from USF, as well as A.A. degrees in both Liberal Arts and Environmental Science from Hillsborough Community College. Post-graduation, she worked as a naturalist at HCC, and led numerous field excursions to both salt and freshwater environments for K-14 students. She has done extensive research into native plants and indigenous utilization, and is an amateur photographer. She joined the Museum as an Advisory Board member, and then as the volunteer naturalist in educational outreach. The Museum’s collection, especially its many vintage postcards, has opened up new explorations in artifacts and memorabilia.

Delores Gillyard

Advisory Committee Member

Delores has been a resident of Sulphur Springs since 1993 and has served as Secretary for Sulphur Springs Neighborhood Association Action League since 2016. She has been involved with Sulphur Springs Museum community services since 2017.

Thomas Baldwin

Museum Staff

Thomas has been a resident of Sulphur Springs for 22 years; he “has worked, lived, played, all through the community.” He works at the Museum 20 hours a week, supporting its day-to-day activities, events, and exhibits and maintaining the building and grounds. He says that he enjoys the work that “brings me in contact with different people from all over the world.”