Gaila Sims

Gaila is our new curator of History. She previously served as the Curator of African American History and Vice President of Programs and Interpretation at the Fredericksburg Area Museum in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Born and raised in Riverside, California, she received her BA in History and African American Studies from Oberlin College and her MA and PhD in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Her doctoral research focused on interpretation of enslavement at state history museums in Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri. She is currently working on a book project, under contract with Louisiana State University Press, on museums, African American history, and community-immersed curatorial practice.