The division welcomes new staff members
Please join the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs in welcoming the newest staff members:
Robert Kitz (he/him) joined the division in December 2022 as a museum site interpreter, guiding visitors on tours of the Johnson Victrola Museum and The Old State House. He also researches the relevant history of these sites to improve dialogues with visitors. Previously, he worked in IT/engineering tech at Delaware State University and ILC Dover. He’s long had an interest in American colonial history and early American technology, and moving into one of Frederica’s 120-year-old houses encouraged him to delve into Delaware history. In his spare time, he focuses on keeping ahead of entropy in his 1890s wood-frame townhouse.
Kira Lyle (she/her) joined the division in June 2023 as its new collections manager. In this role, she manages both the physical and intellectual control of the artifacts housed in the division’s collections. This encompasses both knowledge of where an object is physically located and how it is stored, but also managing all of the “data” associated with an artifact: how it came to be in the collection, whose story it represents and how the object can be presented to the public to tell meaningful stories about the past and the present. Immediately prior to joining the division, she worked as the collections specialist for the Fort Monroe Authority in Hampton, Virginia. Her passion for cultural heritage sites was sparked by a collegiate visit to Eastern State Penitentiary, where she saw how a historic site can make the past feel vitally relevant to the present. She hopes to fill her spare time with a new puppy in the near future, and she is happy to be working in her home state of Delaware.
James Scarborough (he/him) joined the division in March 2023 as an interpretive support specialist, where he works with the research teams on various projects and initiatives across multiple sites. He was inspired by his history-loving father and high school history teachers to pursue a career where he could follow his passion for history. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Delaware State University and a master’s degree in management, with a concentration in public administration, from Wilmington University. Before his current job, he worked for seven years at the Delaware Public Archives processing documents, which included digitizing thousands of documents for public viewing and giving facility tours. Outside of work, his focus is on raising his two toddlers, and in his spare time he enjoys playing video games.
Thomas A. Smith (he/him) joined the division in January 2023 as an accounting specialist after 19 years as a senior accountant/PWR Clerk for GPC in Middletown. He chose accounting as a career path due to his confidence in working with numbers. He has lived in Dover for 22 years and enjoys spending time with his dog, friends and family.