Katharine Allen
Director of Outreach & Engagement
Kat Allen serves as the Director of Outreach and Engagement at Historic Columbia, where she leads the research, programs, and visitor experience teams. She holds degrees from the University of Redlands (BA, English Literature) and the University of South Carolina (MA, Public History; MLIS). Her recent projects include the reinterpretation of the Modjeska Monteith Simkins House, essays in 101 Women Who Shaped South Carolina and Invisible No More: The African American Experience at the University of South Carolina, and the launches of Columba City of Women and “We’re Here! Preserving Columbia’s LGBTQ+ Stories.” A former archivist, Kat regularly consults on projects, ranging from National Register nominations to documentary films, that promote and expand upon the history of marginalized communities in Columbia and Richland County.
Heather Bacon-Rogers
Visitor Experience Manager
Heather Bacon-Rogers started her time at Historic Columbia as a weekend tour guide and now serves as the Visitor Experience Manager. She uses her years of experience as a house museum guide to train others to educate the public about Columbia’s complex history. When she is not at Historic Columbia, Heather is enjoying time with her husband and two Great Pyrenees in downtown Columbia.
Rebecca Woodruff
Curator of History
As the Curator of History at Historic Columbia, Becca Woodruff oversees historical research and interpretation for HC’s public history projects and manages both internal and external research inquiries. She received her master’s degree in art history and museum studies from Case Western Reserve University and has previous experience conducting archival, genealogical, art historical, and provenance research for private collectors and non-profit organizations in the Great Lakes region. In her free time, Becca enjoys painting, reading, and trying new recipes.
Rachel Gregor
Collections Manager
Rachel Gregor is a recent graduate with archaeological, curatorial, and collections management experience. As Collections Manager, she oversees the care of Historic Columbia’s collection, both on display and in storage. Additionally, she maintains our online collections database and provides the interpretation about our many historical objects. Rachel holds a bachelor's degree in Anthropology and a master's in Public History, both from James Madison University. As a new resident of South Carolina, Rachel spends her time outside of work exploring all of what the state has to offer.
Carmen Sangster
Education Manager
Carmen Sangster has recently moved to Columbia and serves as the Education Manager for Historic Columbia. She is a graduate from University of Idaho with experience in education. When not involved with programs, she is organizing student group tours or out exploring the surrounding area with traveling trunks.
JoCora Moore
Community Engagement Coordinator
JoCora Moore serves as the Community Engagement Coordinator for Historic Columbia. A native of Plymouth, NC, JoCora is a proud two-time graduate of North Carolina Central University, where she earned her BA and MA in History. She is currently a Ph.D. Candidate at North Carolina State University in the Public History Ph.D. program. Her research examines the activism of Black women Civil Rights leaders within museum spaces. In her free time, JoCora enjoys watching sports, particularly football, and softball, reading, and watching a good crime show documentary.
Stella Cobbs
Visitor Experience Associate
Stella is a retired Systems Analyst with years of experience in the tech industry. However, in 2018, she found a new passion as a volunteer for Historic Columbia and have been even more active since being named Volunteer of the Year in 2020. In 2021, she decided to take my love to the next level and joined the organization as a Robert Mills Gift Shop staff member. Stella loves meeting and greeting people and is always eager to connect and learn from others. In her free time, she enjoys reading, learning new things, and exploring the vast depths of the internet.
Emily Folk
Visitor Engagement Associate
Visitor Engagement Associate Emily Folk has worked with Historic Columbia since 2022. She was first introduced to HC as a student at University of South Carolina while working on the Bull Street Symposium in 2014. Emily enjoys giving house tours and engaging with guests and coworkers. When not at work Emily spends time with her husband and two black labs.
Adam Miller
Visitor Engagement Associate
Adam Miller is a Columbia, SC native and soon to be a graduate of the University of South Carolina. He is pursuing a bachelor's degree in history with a secondary study of geography. Through his course "Careers in Public History," he learned about Historic Columbia and its values in preserving Columbia and Richland County. As Visitor Engagement Associate, he will give tours of the five houses Historic Columbia has to offer, along with helping with on-site programs as needed. As a local, he spends a lot of time outside in South Carolina State parks kayaking and hiking.
Beth Johnson
Education Assistant
Beth Johnson is an educational assistant working with school group field trips and with the Traveling Trunk program. She is a retired SC public school classroom teacher and is thrilled to continue sharing her enthusiasm for history with students. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh and her master's degree from the University of South Carolina. In her free time, Beth enjoys gardening, cooking, and visiting state parks with her husband, Dylan.
Rachel Ward
Collections Assistant
As Collections Assistant, Rachel Ward updates and maintains accurate records of Historic Columbia’s collection of historical objects in our online database, as well as assisting with the care of those objects. She has a BA in Religious Studies and Anthropology from UNC Charlotte and is currently earning her MA in Museum Studies from the University of Oklahoma. Rachel has previously worked in archaeology and at various museums and cultural institutions. She, her husband, and their cats recently moved to Columbia from Charlotte, NC.