Susan Westhoff
Susan Westhoff brings a passion for working with youth, volunteers, and cultural partners to her work and strives for a feeling of community in all her interactions. She loves building opportunities for everyone to experience something new and inspiring every time they visit, whether inside or outside, with science, the arts, or our natural world. Susan spends her free time camping and hiking throughout Michigan with her husband, Jim, and their children, Ellie and Sam.
David Clipner
David Clipner is a lifelong learner who holds an elementary education degree from Eastern Michigan University, and has previously studied everything from philosophy to welding & fabrication. After 6 years as a Bassist and Sound Engineer in the Marine Corps Band he moved to Michigan to start new adventures though he still keeps his fingers wet in the audio/music world by teaching audio production at Washtenaw Community College and playing locally from time to time. He leads various workshops on heritage skills such as artisan baking and hand tool woodworking, hosts beverage tastings, and consults on wildlife and ecological restoration projects. Teaching and sharing his many interests with others including his wife, Mary and their three boys, Tilden, Rye, and Hawthorn remains his favorite way to spend his time. “You only get one life that we know of. Why would you want to keep all the wonderful things you learn to yourself? What a waste that would be.”
David Clipner is a lifelong learner who holds an elementary education degree from Eastern Michigan University, and has previously studied everything from philosophy to welding & fabrication. After 6 years as a Bassist and Sound Engineer in the Marine Corps Band he moved to Michigan to start new adventures though he still keeps his fingers wet in the audio/music world by teaching audio production at Washtenaw Community College and playing locally from time to time. He leads various workshops on heritage skills such as artisan baking and hand tool woodworking, hosts beverage tastings, and consults on wildlife and ecological restoration projects. Teaching and sharing his many interests with others including his wife, Mary and their three boys, Tilden, Rye, and Hawthorn remains his favorite way to spend his time. "You only get one life that we know of. Why would you want to keep all the wonderful things you learn to yourself? What a waste that would be."
Carol Knauss
Carol Knauss came to the Museum in 1998 from Cranbrook Institute of Science. A lifelong museum professional, Carol’s background is in history, public history, development, and museum operations. Carol loves reading, particularly curled up with her adorable tuxedo cat named Haley.
Gerry Diepenhorst
Gerry Diepenhorst has been keeping the facilities side of the Museum running smoothly for the past 10 years. He is licensed as both a builder and a mechanical contractor. Little did he know that the previous 30 years spent building and remodeling private residences and commercial properties, along with having purchased and extensively renovated more than a dozen multi-unit rental properties in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Willis that he was developing the perfect skill set for his current role at the museum. Gerry enjoys nothing better than delving into a thorny problem and coming up with a creative solution, and if in doing so, he is able to save the museum some money, all the better.
Ari Morris
Ari Morris has been with the organization since 2000. He's happiest while wearing many hats, including managing IT, special events, and project management. A native Ann Arborite, Ari has a background in natural history education, and spends his free time doing photography and music projects.
Charlie Stout
Charlie Stout joined the Museum staff in 2000 as an exhibits project manager following earlier careers in museum content development, archaeology research, and business change management consulting. A constant through his career moves has been drawing and explaining objects, processes and concepts – which meshes nicely with his current role as an exhibit developer. Outside the museum, Charlie illustrates academic literature, develops websites, writes and records music, and creates visual art in a variety of mediums.
Alice Klute
Alice Klute started at the Museum working at summer camp during high school. She rejoined the team many years later and is now the Retail & IT Manager. Alice spends her free time playing video games, and walking with her dog, Daisy.
Lannis Smith
Lannis Smith works as an Education Program Manager and has been working at LSNC since 2015. Ever since she could walk, Lannis has been walking through the wilderness. A Michigan native, she received her bachelor’s degree in Biology at Albion College, and earned her Master’s in Environmental Science at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Lannis has been teaching audiences of all ages about the natural world for over a decade, and every hobby she has involves being outdoors. When she's not teaching with one of our wildlife co-workers, Lannis backpacks with her husband and two adventures dogs, kayaks, and is an equestrian, riding horses for over 24 years!
Meg Robeson
Meg Robeson has been with Unity in Learning since 2018. They first began here as an Americorps member and have since transitioned to being a part of the education team. Meg loves birds, bugs, and all things outdoors!
Kim Messer
Kim Messer had dreams of being either a zoologist or a teacher as a child. Now, she gets the best of both worlds being a program coordinator with Unity in Learning, working with the resident animals, and teaching children of all ages through our various programs. When not at one of our UIL sites, Kim is either playing Dungeons and Dragons with her friends or cozying up with her cat, Phoenix, and watching cartoons.
Michele Schutte
Michele Schutte has an educational background in physical anthropology and museum studies. She joined the AAHOM team, chasing after school buses, in 2019. In her free time, she likes to sew costumes, work with stained glass, visit renaissance festivals and spend time with husband Jim, cat Ken-Ohki and dog Parker.
Lisa Usselman
Lisa Usselman has lived in various parts of Michigan all her life but travels frequently - she worked on a farm in Ecuador, studied medieval literature in England, and learned history in Italy while visiting every museum she could find. She credits these experiences for her obsession with museums now - she’s worked for almost all of them in Ann Arbor! When not at work, you can find her playing video games or hanging out with her chickens.
Ewan Inglis
Ewan Inglis is an Exhibits Technician with a background in theater and set-building. Outside of work, he loves history, language learning, and making things work. He’s new to Ann Arbor and Michigan, and is excited to explore!
Ewan Inglis is an Exhibit Specialist with a background in theater and set-building. Outside of work, he loves history, language learning, and making things work. He’s new to Ann Arbor and Michigan, and is excited to explore!
Derek Schrader
Derek Schrader has been on our team since 2016. In that time, Derek has worked hand in hand with both the facilities and exhibits teams to achieve a beautiful, functional, and fun museum experience for all of our visitors. Derek lives in neighboring Ypsilanti and a few of their many hobbies include hiking, gardening, and skateboarding.
Matthew Darnell
Matthew Darnell joined the organization as an educator in 2022 after teaching middle school social studies for the state of Michigan. When not teaching, Matthew can be found reading and spending time with his family. He loves history and nature, and hopes to encourage others to think critically about the relationships between nature and society.
Matthew Darnell joined the organization as an educator in 2022 after teaching middle school social studies for the state of Michigan. When not teaching, Matthew can be found reading and spending time with his family. He loves history and nature, and hopes to encourage others to think critically about the relationships between nature and society.
Batsheva Glatt
Batsheva Glatt joined the Education staff in 2017, which she credits to a fortunate series of events triggered by setting up a worm bin in a garage. She loves being in nature, caring for plants and animals, and participating in "AHA!" moments of discovery with other humans. Batsheva enjoys being at home with her companion human Toby, and admiring arthropods in her pollinator garden. In the winter, you will find her listening to audiobooks and knitting.
Batsheva Glatt joined the Education staff in 2017, which she credits to a fortunate series of events triggered by setting up a worm bin in a garage. She loves being in nature, caring for plants and animals, and participating in "AHA!" moments of discovery with other humans. Batsheva enjoys being at home with her companion human Toby, and admiring arthropods in her pollinator garden. In the winter, you will find her listening to audiobooks and knitting.
Elisa Watson
Elisa Watson started out hosting birthday parties, then found a home working at the front desk and museum store. She lives nearby with her husband and son and is hoping to make a return soon to studying anthropology. In the meantime, she enjoys learning languages, growing flowers and listening to people's stories.