Elise Griffin of Jacksonville has been named the new Museum Manager of the Jacksonville Area Museum and the MacMurray College Foundation and Alumni Association. Griffin started work in mid-January and replaces previous manager McKenna Servis, who accepted another employment opportunity.
“I am thrilled to be a part of this exciting and growing museum and look forward to welcoming even more visitors during the city’s bicentennial year,” Griffin said. “Jacksonville is such a welcoming town and has a unique history. I am honored to be involved in presenting that history to the city, state, and the world.”
Griffin is a May 2024 graduate of Illinois College in Jacksonville, majored in Public History, and worked in the Khalaf Al Habtoor Archives, located on the college’s campus. Griffin also worked as a seasonal interpreter at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves the remnants of a huge Native American civilization that flourished more than 1,000 years ago.
“We conducted extensive interviews with several very qualified candidates and Elise impressed us with enthusiasm, knowledge and a passion for presenting Jacksonville’s history,” said Jacksonville Area Museum Board Chairman Allan Worrell. “We are pleased that Elise is joining us during this time of rapid growth for the museum.”