A Burdett native has been appointed by the Schuyler County Historical Society’s Board of Trustees as executive director of museums. Heather O’Grady-Evans succeeded Glenda Gephart, who retired on March 31st.
After graduation from Watkins Glen High School, O’Grady-Evans spent one year as a Watkins-Montour Rotary Club exchange student in Budapest, Hungary. She graduated from the University of Rochester with a bachelor of arts degree in history and political science. She completed her graduate studies at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, from which she earned a master’s degree in philosophy.
O’Grady-Evans has spent more than 20 years as an educator at various levels. She also has been involved with the New York wine and hospitality industry for more than 20 years.
Her passion for local history has led to lectures on the history of the New York creamery industry and the agricultural history of Hector and Burdett, as well as several contributions to the book “Historic Burdett Celebrates 200 Years: 1819-2019.”
Gephart was executive director for just under five years.
“I’ve learned a lot and had a lot of fun these past few years as director,” Gephart said. “It’s been an honor to be involved with preserving and sharing Schuyler’s history. Our community is so fortunate to have committed and passionate volunteers serving on the Historical Society’s Board of Trustees and giving hours of time doing research and other tasks for the museums.”
