Staff
Robert M. Brown, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Phone: 728.3476 ext. #1
Email
"Dr. Bob" received his Ph.D. in Early American History from the University of New Hampshire in 1983 with his dissertation, "The Loyalists of New Hampshire: Surely We Have Deserved A Better Future." He worked at museums in New Hampshire, Indiana, and Massachusetts before becoming the director of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula in 1991. When not being "Dr. Bob," he can often be found wandering around town as Captain C.P. Higgins, founder of Missoula or Major Charles Rawn, founder of Fort Missoula; he is often confused as to who he is.
Jason R. Bain
Curator of Collections
Phone: 728.3476 ext. #2
Email
A native of Montana, Jason grew up in Troy before attending Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and the University of Montana. He eventually graduated from Missoula with a BA in the fields of History and Anthropology in the spring of 2001. Following graduation, Jason traveled to Dutch Harbor, Alaska to tackle the world's most difficult job as a deckhand in the Alaskan crab fishing fleet. Following a period of adventure travel, Mr. Bain decided to advance his professional education by studying in the field of museology at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. In 2008, he graduated with an MA in Collections Management and accepted the post of Curator of Collections at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula in 2009. Jason is currently engaged in developing a variety of collections and exhibition projects for the institution. He continues to pursue his interests in travel abroad, running with the bulls at Pamplona, Spain during the Festival of San Fermin, and completing a 2,000 mile adventure rickshaw rally from Kathmandu, Nepal to Chennai, India in an effort to raise funds for sustainable development charities.
Dorene Might-Dyer
Director of Education
Phone: 728.3476 ext. #3
Email
Dorene graduated with a B.S. degree in education from Bowling Green State University, Ohio with additional continuing ed. graduate credits. She has over 30 years experience in the field of education with museums, zoos, theatre, environmental education, and classroom teaching in Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, and California. Dorene is commonly seen with her faithful canine, Juneau.
Diane Sands
Development Officer
Phone: 728.3476 ext. #6
Email
Growing up on Fort Peck Indian Reservation, the granddaughter of homesteaders, Diane developed an early passion for Montana history. After formal education at The University of Montana and The George Washington University, she began a 4 decade long adventure as a founding mother of women's history and women's studies. Trained at the Smithsonian in oral history, she started the MT Oral History Association and has recorded hundreds of interviews on subjects ranging from the Fire of 1910 to the building of Fort Peck Dam to Jeannette Rankin. Her current passion is the history of Fort Missoula as a WWII Alien Detention Camp. In her other life, Diane loves politics and is honored to serve in the Montana House of Representatives on behalf of Missoula.
Rachel Bartlett
Collections Assistant
Phone: 728.3476 ext. #2
Email
Rachel received her BA degree in English, Education and journalism at the Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts. She has been a teacher for 15 years and has experience in marketing and advertising sales in both print media and television.
She has been on staff at the museum for six years, working in the areas of education and collections. She can be found doing her daily chores, occasionally becoming amazingly lost among the thousands of collection pieces at the Museum.
Carolyn Thompson
Education Assistant
Phone: 728.3476 ext. #4
Email
Carolyn Thompson graduated in 1990 with a bachelor's in social work from the University of Montana. After graduation Carolyn worked for a HUD demonstration project preschool and then worked as a case manager/ rehab specialist for the Western Montana Mental Health Center for 7 years. In 1999 she left social work to pursue a full time position as domestic goddess/mother with the birth of her daughter. After 9 years at home and a variety of part-time jobs, Carolyn re-entered the work field and began the next chapter of her life as the Education Assistant at The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula in the summer of 2007.
Sharon Garner
Museum Aide
Phone: 728.3476
Sharon works on the weekends facilitating a positive museum experience for visitors and group events. She has a B.A. from the University of Montana and is a native of Missoula. She held a number of different positions before coming to the Historical Museum in 2003 including working at the UM Admissions Office where she learned the value of great customer service. Time outside of the museum is mostly spent working on freelance historical research projects.
Juneau
Official Greeter / Staff Therapist
Phone: 728.3476 ext. #3
Juneau is our canine staff member acting as both official greeter and staff therapist. Her wagging tail, blue eyes and friendly approach greet many a visitor. Her willingness to listen, play, have her belly rubbed, ears scratched, and show interest and support in all we do lends greatly to staff morale. When she is not at work, she can be found at the Dyer home, hiking, swimming, and resting in the sun. She is still working on her computer skills. . .
