About

Carlisle Barron Jensen, Executive Director

A driven, results-oriented nonprofit professional with over 10 years of experience, Carlisle has dedicated her career to strengthening organizations and creating growth opportunities. Growing up on Nantucket, she developed a passion for philanthropy early on through volunteer work with numerous island organizations.

With a background in nonprofit management, community engagement, and program development, Carlisle has led initiatives that enhance funding, outreach, and organizational impact. She is a graduate of the University of Vermont, where she served as the Community Engagement Coordinator, connecting students with experiential education opportunities throughout the Burlington area. Upon returning to Nantucket, she joined the Community Foundation of Nantucket as a Program and Development Officer, gaining a deep understanding of the island’s nonprofit sector and community needs. While at CFN, she spearheaded the Foundation’s $10 million Endowment Campaign and helped grow funds under management to over $20 million.

Committed to continuous learning, Carlisle completed Harvard Business School’s Credential of Readiness Program and earned a certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice. She is also a trustee of the Nantucket Partnership for Children and serves on the Nantucket Cottage Hospital Advisory Committee.

Outside of work, Carlisle is an avid marathon runner and actively raises funds for ALS research and support organizations.

Contact Carlisle - cbjensen@eganmaritime.org

Hayley Nelson, Director of Community Relations & Visitor Experience

Hayley is a communications professional with extensive experience in community outreach, visitor experience, and museum and theatre operations. Before joining Egan Maritime Institute, she served as the Public Outreach Coordinator for the Town of Nantucket.

Hayley discovered her passion for guest services and museums while working at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., and later as the Assistant Director of Visitor Experience at the Discovery Museum in Acton, MA. She is particularly interested in creating innovative ways to engage the public and help visitors connect with cultural institutions and the stories they tell.

A Nantucket resident since 2021, Hayley’s deep connection to the island is rooted in her family heritage—her mother is a fifth-generation Nantucketer with ties to the fishing and whaling industries.

Hayley holds a B.A. in Media & Communication and Theatre from Muhlenberg College. She is excited to welcome both visitors and islanders to the Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum aboard the Lynx or at one of EMI’s many public programs.

Renee Ceely, Operations & Properties Manager

Renee brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership and property management -to Egan Maritime. Before this role, she served as the Executive Director of the Nantucket Housing Authority for nearly 30 years, where she played a pivotal role in addressing the island’s growing affordable housing crisis.

Renee arrived on Nantucket in 1980 to serve as the island’s first Senior Planner for the Nantucket Planning & Economic Development Commission and later as the Town’s Grant Administrator. Her passion for maritime heritage was sparked soon after, as she and her husband made history in local aquaculture by establishing the island’s first oyster farm. Her husband’s family boasts a deep-rooted maritime legacy, tracing back to whaling captains, sailmakers, fishermen, and skilled craftsmen.

With a career dedicated to community service and a personal connection to Nantucket’s maritime traditions, Renee brings invaluable experience and passion to her role at Egan Maritime.

Contact Renee - admin@eganmaritime.org

Tony Dumitru, Museum Collections and Exhibitions Manager

Tony Dumitru is a musuem professional with over twenty years of experience in museum curation and collections management. Originally from Romania, he spent a decade as a Curator and Department Director at the ASTRA Museum before moving to the U.S. in 2000 to further his career in the museum field.

After earning a Master’s degree in Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program (State University of New York), Tony and his wife, Delia, relocated to Nantucket. He was soon hired by the Nantucket Historical Association as Collections Manager, a role he held for nearly two decades.

With years of experience in museum operations, Tony brings valuable insight into the strategic and day-to-day functions of Egan Maritime Institute. His primary goal is to enhance the institution’s role within the community—both for seasonal visitors and year-round residents—while strengthening its impact and outreach.

Contact Tony - tdumitru@eganmaritime.org or 508-228-1885

Sonia Scherr, Experiential Educator and Community Program Coordinator

Sonia Scherr brings a strong background in education and experiential learning to Egan Maritime Institute. Before joining Egan, she served as the Community Education Coordinator at The Cabot School in Vermont, where she expanded out-of-classroom learning opportunities for students. In this role, she developed an afterschool program focused on STEAM education for children and youth.

Sonia holds an M.F.A. in Writing from the University of New Hampshire, an M.A. in English from Middlebury College, and a B.A. in English Literature (Phi Beta Kappa) from Swarthmore College.

With a passion for innovative education, Sonia is dedicated to enhancing experiential learning at Egan Maritime and inspiring students through hands-on, engaging programs.

Contact Sonia: sscherr@eganmaritime.org or 508-228-2505

Special Projects & Exhibit Consultant, Charles J. “Chuck” Allard

Chuck has been an invaluable asset to Egan Maritime Institute and the Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum for over a decade. He initially joined as a seasonal museum guide, but his expertise and dedication quickly earned him increased responsibilities, ultimately leading to his appointment as Museum Director in 2021.

During his tenure, Chuck has spearheaded multiple community programs and elevated the museum’s professionalism, including updating collections management policies. He has also led the design and creation of numerous exhibits and recently oversaw the redesign of the Rosenthal Boathouse Gallery.

A passionate scholar and storyteller, Chuck is deeply committed to preserving and sharing Nantucket’s history of shipwrecks, lifesaving, and heroic rescues. Beginning in 2025, he will transition into a part-time role as the museum's special projects and exhibit consultant while continuing to write the beloved monthly column, This Month in Maritime History.

Contact Chuck: Exhibits@eganmaritime.org

2023 Annual Report

Click Here to Read our 2023 Annual Report.

2022 Annual Report

Click here to read our 2022 Annual Report.

2021 Annual Report, Thank you!

To download and view the 2021 Annual Report, click here.

2020 Annual Report, A Year Like No Other

To download and view the 2020 Annual Report, click here.