WESTMORELAND COUNTY MUSEUM
Meet Our Team
The Westmoreland County Museum employs a small staff. If you are interested in volunteering or setting up a non-paid internship with us, feel free to reach out to westmorelandcountymuseum@gmail.com. We have worked with interns on a variety of projects that not only benefit us, but provide experience in a museum and library setting helping students complete their educational goals.
Coleman Courtney
Executive Director
Coleman Courtney is a historian, educator, and content developer whose work focuses on uncovering and teaching underrepresented narratives, with particular attention to cultural context, historical accuracy, and inclusive storytelling. She has been teaching and developing historical content since 2005 and brings nearly two decades of experience across museum interpretation, public history education and organizational leadership.
Coleman’s work spans multiple historical eras and includes writing educational content for local museums, designing interactive learning programs, and leading historical interpretation for diverse audiences. She has also been a featured invited speaker at universities, presenting on Native trade networks, economies, and their lasting influence on regional and national history. Her interpretive interests include ethnobiology and the interconnected relationships between people, land, and ecosystems, often explored through concepts such as the “Wood Wide Web” to help audiences understand systems of exchange, sustainability, and environmental knowledge.
In addition to collaborating with public school systems, homeschool networks, and local educational partners, Coleman has extensive experience in curriculum development and community-based education. She has facilitated online courses, supported local educational organizations, and developed programming grounded in trauma-informed teaching and culturally responsive design. She is known for translating complex or overlooked subjects into accessible, engaging learning experiences.
As Executive Director, Coleman is focused on strengthening the museum’s role as a trusted educational resource, expanding inclusive community programming, and preserving Westmoreland County’s history in ways that connect the past meaningfully to the present and future.
Naomi Trout
Archeologist and Material Culture Specialist
Naomi Trout serves as the Museum’s Archaeology and Material Culture Specialist, bringing hands on archaeological research and education to Westmoreland County and the Northern Neck. With experience spanning field archaeology, laboratory analysis, and public education, Naomi has contributed to projects ranging from international excavations in Belize to archaeological surveys, curation efforts, and historic site research across Virginia. Her work includes participation in Phase I and Phase III investigations, service as a ground penetrating radar GPR technician, and support of academic and museum collections initiatives.
At the Westmoreland County Museum, Naomi is developing archaeology education programs that connect the region’s deep and layered history to the people who live here today. Her work emphasizes how archaeologists study and interpret the past, the care and stewardship of local material culture, and creating meaningful opportunities, especially for students and community members, to engage directly with archaeology through hands on programs, public talks, and interactive experiences.
Eileen Scholar
Decorations and Store Support
Eileen is a longtime member of the Museum team and a creative force behind many of our exhibits and seasonal displays. A retired art teacher, she first joined the Museum as a volunteer in 2016 and later became the manager of the Westmoreland Mercantile General Store.
Today, Eileen continues to support the Museum through exhibit design, decorations in the Wakefield Building, and ongoing help in the Mercantile. She played a key role in the rotating exhibit on Colonial Beach and is often behind the scenes turning ideas into engaging, memorable experiences for visitors. From thoughtful exhibit details to large scale creations like the life sized gingerbread house pictured here, Eileen helps bring the Museum to life in ways both creative and welcoming.
Deborah Newman
Webmaster & Marketing Chair, Board Member
Deborah Newman is the owner of Petite Taway Inc, web design and social media marketing company specializing in working with small businesses and nonprofits. Deborah designs custom websites for a host of organizations and businesses throughout the United States and abroad. She also provides social media and web management training, designs marketing materials, and creates stategic fundraising plans.
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​Prior to creating her web design business, Deborah was in the restaurant and hospitality business in Northern Virginia for 25 years. She earned a BA from George Mason University in The Studies of the Americas and is a published editor for Resources for a Multicultural Classroom (The Multicultural Resource Series, V. 2) Editor - National Education Association (June 1, 2000).
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Deborah is Vice President of the Colonial Beach Historical Society & Museum, a board member of the Fredericksburg-Este Association, JART, Inc and is the Marketing Director for FailSafe-ERA. Deborah is the founder of three networking groups which encourage collaboration and partnership and she presently works with clients all across the United States, Canada, the UK and Africa.
IN MEMORIAM
In Memorandum - Brianna Morris
March 7, 1982 - March 13, 2024
Brianna joined the Museum on April 1, 2013, and from the very beginning brought creativity, vision, and tireless commitment to every aspect of the institution. She was instrumental in shaping the Museum’s public presence—designing promotional materials, managing media outreach, and creating the visual identity for countless programs, tours, and fundraisers that became hallmarks of the Museum’s calendar.
Throughout her tenure, Brianna was at the heart of the Museum’s educational mission. She welcomed thousands of visitors through guided tours, led programs for school groups and families, and developed the curriculum for the Museum’s educational offerings. She founded the Museum’s internship program, mentoring students for nearly a decade, and
created the beloved Summer Kids Camp, opening the Museum’s doors to hands-on learning for young people across the region. She also built and supervised the Museum’s volunteer program, fostering a community of engaged and dedicated supporters.
Brianna played a central role in expanding the Museum’s cultural and artistic reach. She curated and coordinated more than sixty local artists for the Museum’s monthly Pop ‘n Art exhibitions and brought over twenty guest lecturers to the community—often providing first-time exhibition opportunities for emerging artists. She helped plan major annual events including the Holiday House Tour, Garden Tour, Christmas Gala and Silent Auction, and special programs such as the Museum’s “Antiques Roadshow”-style appraisal event.
Her leadership extended beyond the Museum walls. Brianna served as the Museum’s liaison to Westmoreland County Public Schools, the Virginia Association of Museums, and numerous partner institutions throughout the Northern Neck. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she ensured the Museum remained accessible by producing virtual programming and outreach for students and families. She also supported genealogy researchers, worked closely with the Exhibit & Collections Committee, assisted with acquisitions and donations, and collaborated on the development and installation of exhibitions.
Brianna was also a dedicated advocate for the Museum’s sustainability, writing grants and leading multi-tiered fundraising initiatives, including the Museum’s participation in the Community Foundation’s Amazing Raise. Her creativity, persistence, and belief in the Museum’s mission helped strengthen its future.
We are profoundly grateful for everything Brianna Morris gave to the Westmoreland County Museum—her talent, her leadership, her generosity, and her unwavering belief in the power of history, art, and community. Her legacy lives on in the programs she built, the people she mentored, and the institution she helped shape.
She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
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