Montclair History Center is excited to introduce new staff members to our team and celebrate a familiar face taking on a new role. Welcome to Nicholas, Valerie, and Jeannette! Read on to learn more about them.

Nicholas Muller joined the Montclair History Center as its new Collections Manager in June. Nicholas has previously worked with historic materials at the 92nd Street Y, Clifton Public Library and Essex County Parks Archives, and he had also been a collections intern and volunteer at the History Center since 2022. Nicholas graduated with a Master's of Information concentrating in Archives & Preservation from Rutgers University in 2024 and a Bachelor's degree in History from Montclair State University in 2022. Nicholas enjoys reading, listening to the music of jazz pianist Bill Evans and spending time with his two cats and Shih Tzu, Winston.

Valerie Saporito is a nonprofit professional with a strong background in museum education, program coordination, and marketing. She began working with the Montclair History Center in 2023 as an intern and has held several positions here over the years, and is now currently the Education Manager. She also works for the Roseland Historical Society as their museum consultant and caretaker. Valerie's previous experience includes Administrative Coordinator for Montclair Community Farms, as well as Wilson Junior Researcher for Project AROS Lab where she researched LGBTQ+ collaborations throughout the Commonwealth countries of the Global South. She holds a B.A. in History and Psychology from Montclair State University and an M.A. in Museum Studies from the City University of New York. When she’s not working, Val loves spending time with animals or in the kitchen cooking and baking.

Jeannette Wicks joined the Montclair History Center as Development Manager, bringing nearly two decades of nonprofit fundraising experience rooted in New Jersey. Since beginning her career as an AmeriCorps Member in 2006, Jeannette has built a reputation for putting relationships at the center of everything, stewarding a donor community of more than 10,000 supporters, cultivating corporate and community partnerships, and contributing to fundraising efforts that stretch well into the multi-millions. As a lifelong Essex County resident, she feels genuinely at home at an institution whose mission she has always believed in: that local history does not live behind glass but breathes in our houses, our gardens, our archives, and our neighbors. Outside of work, Jeannette is an avid power walker and lover of nature, comedy, and sings every 90s pop song with more enthusiasm than accuracy. She bakes from scratch, is newly passionate about tennis, and counts family and friends as her foundation and her favorite people.