Our Staff
At the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota, every one of us is passionate about play.
Our team is committed to driving our mission of igniting the natural curiosity of every child through the power of play in a dynamic, awe-inspiring environment.
Our Front Desk staff welcome visitors with a bright smile as soon as they walk through the door. Museum Educators lead engaging programs and experiences in our exhibit spaces while playworkers are there to make sure children and families get the most out of their time at the Museum. Behind the scenes, we have many happy faces further driving the mission of Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota.
We are committed to building a team of people who uphold the highest standards of visitor experience so that every adult, child, and family has the best experience possible. If you share these same values, we’d love to hear from you about joining our team! Explore our current job openings below.
Louise Dickmeyer
Chief Executive Officer
When I was a girl visiting my Grandparents, my Grandma used to let my sister and me put on the old lace petticoats she had in her attic. We would pretend we were brides or princesses – sometimes adding a lace curtain held on with a headband as a veil. It was one of my most special play memories from our visits.
Kim Kleven
Vice President of Play and Learning
My best memories of childhood mostly come from being outside. Whether it was “fishing” in mud puddles or creating great “feasts” with rocks and pinecones there was a lot of imaginary play involved! These memories fuel my passion to provide these opportunities for all children!
Jaci Sprague
Vice President of Development
There was never a moment without adventure on my family’s farm with my four siblings. Growing up, my family raised an abundance of animals including horses, chickens, bunnies, hamsters, and at one point I even had my own “pet” cow, named Norbert.
Kathleen Burns
Director of Museum Experience
When I was a child I loved to play outside, especially in the winter. I could often be found building snow people, ice skating on the pond behind my house, or dragging a sled down to the park. When indoors I liked to curl up with a good book and imagine what adventures the characters would face next.
Rachel Gemlo
Director of Programming
When I was little I loved playing at my grandparent’s farm, which is by a lake. We would collect baby frogs, snails and lightning bugs, play in the hay barn and go on 4-wheeler and tractor rides. I still love to do all of these things.
Kim Luiken
Operations Manager
My childhood is full of making memories with my siblings and cousins. Our imaginations took us on many wonderful adventures. From fort building in the woods to making mud pies in the backyard – there was always something new to discover in the land of make-believe!
Mike McDougall
Facilities Manager
I liked driving around town on my dirt bike, not coming home until the street lights came on and playing in the backyard. But my all time favorite memory was fishing at the lake. I like to fish with my boys and hope it will be a memory of theirs one day.
Hallie O'Connor
Exhibits Manager
My favorite childhood memory is playing in the ravine with my little brother. As the seasons changed our play would change; late spring the waterfall would be flowing with the snowmelt and we could divert the water and collect it in buckets. In the fall, with only a small trickle from the stream, we could make the rocky pit below the waterfall into an elaborate fort hideout. With the freezing and thawing during winter the waterfall would form into a big ice flow and we could excavate items frozen in the ice.
Crystal Olson
Development Director
I loved swinging as a little kid. From frigid winters to hot, humid summers and every day / climate in between, you could find me on the playground swings. While swinging, I would imagine stories and adventures and write about them when I’d get home.
Tasha Oliver
Butterfly House Coordinator & Program Facilitator
When I was a young girl, I loved anything that involved spending time with my brother and cousins at our grandparents’ house! Letting our imaginations run wild, we would spend hours playing make-believe outdoors in our grandparents’ big backyard. We would build with Legos, challenge each other to board games, and enjoy sun-brewed sweet tea paired with stories from Grandpa out on the patio. On my own, I particularly loved puzzles, reading books, paint-by-numbers, and anything that involved animals! I still enjoy these many things today!
Sarah B.
Program Facilitator
My fondest memories as a kid all took place on the farm I grew up on. I felt like the luckiest girl growing up on a farm. I got to watch baby calves run and play in the pasture, I got to be a “mom” to barn kittens, collect eggs from our hens, play and chase ducks around the yard, be chased by turkeys, and swing on my swing set as I sang on the top of my lungs whatever song I had made up that day. These memories will always hold a place in my heart and I still think of these memories as I play tag with kids at the Museum or sing songs with them on the stage.
Alyssa
Guest Experience Coordinator
Sarah H.
Guest Experience Coordinator & Front Desk
Cheri
Guest Experience Coordinator
Krista
Front Desk Attendant
Alyssa
Exhibit Assistant
Kathryn
Front Desk & Playworker
Annika
Playworker
Cathy
Playworker
Penny
Playworker
Gracelyn
Playworker
Isobel
Playworker
Sadie
Playworker
Sam
Playworker