Division welcomes new deputy director Amy Shepherd

In early September, the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs welcomed Amy Shepherd as its new deputy director. Shepherd, who has been working with the Division since last summer as a diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility consultant, joins with nearly three decades of experience as an educator.

“The Division is thrilled to welcome Amy to the team. Her experience in education and diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility training tie to key components of our strategic plan which focus on addressing the complicated, and often difficult, history of Delaware,” said Division Director Suzanne Savey. “She brings new ideas and a different perspective to the Division’s work. I am very excited that she is joining the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs’ leadership team.”

Shepherd fills the role for Savery, who took over as Division Director in July 2022. Shepherd said working with the Division over the past year and seeing the staff’s commitment to telling a more inclusive story about Delaware’s history impressed her and inspired her to want to get more involved.

“I hope to just play a small role in helping the Division share history in a way that reflects and interests all Delawareans,” she said. “It’s really important for everyone to understand their history and the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ of how we’ve gotten to where we are today. I’m excited we’re on a path to understanding stories in a more comprehensive and full way.”

Shepherd joins the Division after working for 18 years at St. Anne’s Episcopal School in Middletown, where she was a school librarian and the director of diversity, equity and inclusion. She holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and elementary education from Temple University and received a certificate in diversity and inclusion leadership from Cornell University in 2018.

Shepherd, who grew up in Philadelphia, now lives in Middletown with her husband, Osborne Shepherd, their three daughters and their golden doodles. In her free time, she enjoys reading and gardening, as well as tutoring students in need of an educational boost. She also serves on the board of the Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence and the Delaware Social Justice Remembrance Coalition, which was founded by her daughter, Savannah Shepherd.