Meet the Team

Clara Dawson (She/Her)

Executive Director

director@vacavillemuseum.org

Clara Dawson joined the museum as Executive Director in August 2024. Her love of museums started at an early age when she spent hot California summers in the cool air-conditioning of her hometown’s municipal museum. These formative experiences led her to pursue a BA from UC San Diego in Archaeology and an MA in Museums Studies from the University of Washington. Over the last 8 years, Clara has developed and implemented programs in art museums, children’s museums, and natural history museums both big and small.  She is deeply passionate about the opportunities museums present for interpreting the past, the possibilities for creating community in the present, and the potential to inspire our leaders of the future. 

Shelby Sorensen  (She/Her)

Curator

shelby@vacavillemuseum.org

Shelby Sorensen stepped into the collection as Curator in February 2025. Her background is as curious as the Vacaville collection is with 8 years of optical experience before changing fields to join the world of museums and archives. She attended the University of Oklahoma receiving dual master’s degrees in Museum Studies as well as Library and Information Studies with a graduate certificate in archival Studies. During her time in school, she learned hands-on experience as the Museum Manager for Folsom History. She has a passion for underrepresented stories, uncovering history through objects, and finding creativity through exhibition. There’s no subject she doesn’t find interesting with special care for the morbid and unspoken.

Whit Germano-Heller (He/Him)

Office Manager

whit@vacavillemuseum.org

Whit Germano-Heller brought his love of organization to the museum as Office Manager in February 2025.  He is a graduate of the University of the Pacific and has worked in nonprofit administration for the last 15 years, from Gardens featuring the rarest of endemic plants to Science Centers inspiring our next generation of leaders.  As a Native Hawaiian, Whit is inspired by the preservation of history happening at the Vacaville Museum, and the wonderful volunteers and supporters leading our efforts.

Vacaville Museum Board of Trustees

(effective 01/14/2025)

Dipak “Dee” Patel

Bill Seiden

Lois Cross

John Carli, Mayor