About

Executive Director, Carlisle Barron Jensen

Carlisle joined Egan Maritime in the spring of 2022 as the youngest executive director in the organization's history. Carlisle grew up on Nantucket and developed a passion for philanthropy through volunteering with many Island organizations. A graduate of the University of Vermont, she has experience working as the Community Engagement Coordinator at UVM, focusing on connecting students with experiential education opportunities within the Burlington area. Upon moving back to the Island, Carlisle was hired as the Program and Development Officer at the Community Foundation of Nantucket, where she gained a deep understanding of the community and culture of the Island and its non-profit organizations. During her time at CFN, Carlisle spearheaded the Foundation's $ 10 million Endowment Campaign and helped grow funds under management to over $20 Million. Carlisle recently completed Harvard Business School's Credential of Readiness Program and earned a certificate for Nonprofit management from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice. Carlisle is a trustee of the Nantucket Partnership for Children and a Nantucket Cottage Hospital Advisory Committee member. When not at work, Carlisle enjoys running marathons and raising money for ALS research and support organizations.

Contact Carlisle - cbjensen@eganmaritime.org

Operations & Properties Manager, Renee Ceely

Renee joined Egan Maritime in the summer of 2022. Before that, she was the Executive Director of the Nantucket Housing Authority for nearly three decades, tackling the Island’s burgeoning affordable housing crisis. Her proudest accomplishment was spearheading, from conception to completion, the development of Sachem’s Path, a $20M homeownership success story for island residents.

With her many years of working in the world of non-profits, professionally and as a volunteer, Renee was also the founding Director of NHA Properties, Inc., the non-profit that would become Housing Nantucket, originating the House Recycling Program and the Covenant Homeownership Program developing affordable community housing opportunities for low and moderate-income families.

Renee arrived on Nantucket in 1980 to be employed as the Island’s first Senior Planner of the Nantucket Planning & Economic Development Commission and later the Town’s Grant Administrator. Renee’s maritime interests developed right away, making history in aquaculture with her husband, who owned and operated the Island’s first oyster farm, whose family comes from a rich maritime history beginning with whaling captains, sail makers, fishermen, craftsmen, and whirligig makers.

Contact Renee - admin@eganmaritime.org

Museum Collections and Exhibitions Manager,Tony Dumitru

Tony joined the staff of the Egan Maritime Foundation in 2021. Originally from Romania, he worked as a Curator and Department Director at the ASTRA Museum for ten years. In 2000 Tony decided to move to the U.S. to continue his career in the museum field. After earning a Masters’ degree in Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program (State University of New York), Tony moved to Nantucket together with his wife Delia in 2000, and was hired by the Nantucket Historical Association as Collections Manager where he worked for almost two decades. With years of experience in the museum field, Tony is able to understand the operational matters at Egan Maritime Institute. Tony’s major goal is to augment the role of the institution and increase its importance within the community, seasonal and year-round.

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

Experiential Educator, Sonia Scherr

Sonia Scherr joined Egan as our Experiential Educator in October 2024. She will be coming to Egan from The Cabot School in VT, where she worked as the Community Education Coordinator, expanding out-of-classroom student learning opportunities. In particular, she created an afterschool program for children and youth focused on STEAM. Sonia has 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.

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 ten years. He initially joined the organization as a seasonal museum guide. It quickly became apparent that his talents were so invaluable that he was steadily given more responsibilities and, ultimately, was named Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum Director in 2021. Since joining the organization, Chuck has spearheaded multiple community programs and shepherded the Museum to a new level of professionalism, including updating our collections management policies. In addition, he led the design and creation of numerous exhibits and recently oversaw the redesign of the Rosenthal Boathouse Gallery.

Chuck's passion for Nantucket's history of shipwrecks, lifesaving, and rescuers knows no bounds. He is a thoughtful scholar and storyteller. Starting in 2025, Chuck will transition into a part-time role as the museum's special projects and exhibit consultant in January and will continue 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.