Events

 Joshua Shumak is a nationally recognized policy consultant, educator, and advocate for Indigenous communities. He specializes in education, cultural policy, and government relations, developing initiatives that support Native American populations through research and tribal-state collaboration. Joshua
advances tribal governance, cultural preservation, and community development by connecting state agencies, nonprofits, and tribal nations. His work spans food sovereignty, Indigenous curriculum development, cultural heritage protection, and government policy. He has consulted widely to
strengthen Indigenous communities and promote their interests. Joshua’s impact has been recognized at state, national, and international levels.  

 Aliene Humphries was born in Spartanburg, SC, and graduated from Columbia College with degrees in Special Education and Public Speaking/Drama. In 2010, she wrote her first book, The Legacy of A Common Civil War Soldier, based on the letters written by her great-grandfather Private Thomas Marion Shields in 1861-1865. Currently, Aliene is promoting her new book (tentative release date of fall 2022) and Timeline (now available) with the 60+ significant sites in her beloved state of South Carolina as battlefield sites, gravesites, and more. Aliene dresses in period attire and brings items from the 18th century to her talks including old and rare newspapers and unique items such as a wig curler.

 Elizabeth Chew became CEO of the South Carolina Historical Society in January 2024. A historian, curator, and educator, she has worked at museums and historic sites since 1985.

Prior to arriving in Charleston, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Curator at James Madison’s Montpelier in Virginia. During her 8 1/2 years at Montpelier, Dr. Chew led teams of curators, historians, educators, interpreters, public program creators, archaeologists, and historic preservation experts in researching and interpreting James Madison and his family, his essential roles in framing the U.S. Constitution and leading the nation, and the community of enslaved people on the plantation.

Prior to joining Montpelier, Dr. Chew led the curatorial and education division at Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem, NC.  Earlier in her career, she served as Curator at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville, VA.  During her thirteen-year tenure there, she was responsible for ongoing research and interpretation initiatives that wove together the Monticello house, its collections, the Jefferson family, and the enslaved community.  Dr. Chew also worked in curatorial positions in art museums in Washington, D.C., at The Phillips Collection, the National Gallery of Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Raised in Augusta, Georgia, Elizabeth received a BA in art history from Yale University, an MA from the University of London, and PhD from UNC- Chapel Hill.