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About Us

Founded in 1997, the Reston Museum, is a community 501c3 nonprofit organization that preserves the past, informs the present, and influences the future of Reston through its exhibits, public programsand events including the Reston Home TourLake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta, and Founder's Day. Museum admission is free. Programs of the Reston Museum are supported in part by Reston Community Center.

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Our Story

The Reston Museum first opened its doors on Lake Anne Plaza in November 1997 in the space that was once the Carter Glass Library. The initial idea for the Reston Museum came from Sarah Larson and Susann Gerstein, who were inspired by the recent designation of Lake Anne Plaza as a Fairfax County historic district. 

In 2004, Reston Museum received a Housing and Urban Development grant for $250,000 to overhaul the physical space. The Reston Museum’s Grand Reopening took place in September of 2009. Robert E. Simon Jr., Lynn Lilienthal, Supervisor Catherine Hudgins, Vicky Wingert, Delegate Ken Plum, and the Honorable Janet Howell performed the ribbon cutting.

 

Over the years the Museum’s collection of artifacts, written materials, photographs, exhibits, and art has continued to expand. Click here to see the Reston Museum Collection Listing. 

The Reston Museum has provided community events annually including the Reston Home Tour, Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta, and Founder's Day. Educational programs are provided at Reston Community Center, in schools, and during field trips and tours. The museum features both permanent and temporary exhibits as well as a free little art gallery. 

Reston Museum has installed public art works including Untold Stories by Zachary Oxman (2004) and the Lakeside Pharmacy Icon exhibit (2019) at Lake Anne Plaza.

Staff

Alexandra Campbell, Executive Director

Ava Smigliani, Visitor Services Coordinator 

The Board

Carolyn Flicroft, Board Chair

Carolyn Flitcroft is a long time residential mortgage loan officer. She also volunteers with other local organizations, including GRACE and the Giving Circle of Hope.

Kristina Alcorn, Vice-Chair

Kristina is a (nearly) lifelong resident of Reston and 1986 graduate of South Lakes High School. After receiving degrees in English and Spanish from Longwood University, Kristina worked as an environmental consultant and technical writer. Kristina briefly left the business world in 2015 to focus on writing In His Own Words: Stories from the Extraordinary Life of Reston's Founder, Robert E. Simon Jr.

Bonnie Haukness, Secretary 

Bonnie is a local realtor. She served as chair of the Reston Home Tour from 2007-2016 and continues to assist with it. She also serves on the Friends of Reston Board at Walker Nature House, and volunteers annually at the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival.

Patrick Lichy, Treasurer 

Patrick is an accountant and auditor for Freddie Mac.

Shelley Mastran, Previous Past-Chair 

Shelley is a preservation planning consultant and Professor in Practice in Urban Affairs and Planning at Virginia Tech-Alexandria campus. She is former director of Rural Heritage Program at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Shelley has a Ph.D. in geography and is co-author of numerous publications.

Caren Anton

Caren Anton has enjoyed being a Restonian since 1989. She served for four years as the Hunters
Woods/Dogwood district director on the Reston Association Board from 2018-2022, her final year as
president of the Association. Prior to that time, she served as member and then chair of the RA
Elections Committee. Currently she is a member of the Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate
Advisory Council. She is an avid trail walker and tennis player. Professionally she wears two hats:
accountant and actor.

Debban Dodrill

Debban is a long-time Reston resident and Long & Foster real estate agent. 

Mary Miceli

Mary is a long-time Reston resident and real estate agent. She has an extensive background in sales and home renovation. 

Mason Miller 

Mason moved to Reston with his parents when they purchased their Inlet Court home in 1971. Mason has lived in Reston most of his life, save a few years bouncing around Southern California and a few years living in Wiehle, VA (which still has a Reston mailing address). Mason is also a founding partner of SiteWelder, a web content platform used by thousands of photographers and other visual artists.

Renette Oklewicz

Renette Oklewicz retired as a program director at the Freddie Mac Foundation after nearly 24 years. She managed the Foundation's Wednesday's Child program and was responsible for philanthropic investments in foster care, homelessness and child advocacy. Renette works as a consultant to foundations and nonprofits and volunteers with nonprofits throughout the metro area.

 

Jackie Peebles 

Jackie Peebles has lived in Northern Virginia since 1951 and in Reston since 1995, saving the best for last. She taught in Fairfax County schools from 1965-1968, lived in New York City for 3 years and in a Volkswagon camper for a year traveling around Europe. She wrote for newsletters that covered pending state and federal legislation that affected businesses until retiring. 

Stephanie Randall

Stephanie Randall is a native Washingtonian and Long & Foster Real Estate agent

Kurt Rose

Kurt is a proud Reston resident since 1974. He is a graduate of South Lakes High School, 1985. He is also the past president of the Rotary Club of Herndon. Kurt is a jewelry designer and co-owner of Aspen Jewelry Designs

Lisa Sechrest-Ehrhardt 

Lisa teaches at the University of the District of Columbia in social welfare policy and social work. She is a professional diversity trainer and has conducted numerous workshops and made presentations on community diversity. Lisa serves on the RCC Board of Governors and has volunteered in other capacities in Reston.

Andy Sigle

In telecommunications industry management for more than 25 years, Andy is a former Reston Association Board Director and currently serves the Reston community in many ways. He is a Bartender at Lake Anne Brew House, a Project Director at Cornerstones, Chair of the Reston Transportation Network Advisory Group, Chair of the Southgate Community Center Advisory Council, and President of the South Lakes High School PTSA.

Judy Singer

Judy Singer has been a nonprofit executive and development officer in the greater Washington metro area for over 25 years and has worked closely with Washington’s diplomatic corps, government officials and members of the area’s philanthropic community. Prior to joining Fellowship Square Foundation in Reston as its Senior Director, she worked with various nonprofit organizations including the World Affairs Council of Washington, DC, International Student House of Washington, DC, the Washington Choral Arts Society and Meridian International Center. She grew up in Reston, earned her B.A. degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, then returned to Reston where she is raising her daughter.

Cheryl Terio-Simon 

Cheryl has been a Reston resident since 1969. She is an Emerita member of the Virginia State Bar, and has been active in a variety of community organizations.

Rebekah Wingert-Jabi 

Rebekah lives in Reston and grew up in this planned community. She has fifteen years of producing, directing and editing experience in film and television. She directed the documentary, My Neighborhood, which won a Peabody Award, and the feature-length documentary Another Way of Living: The Story of Reston, VA on Reston's 50 years of history. She also worked on films that aired on the Discovery Channel and Al Jazeera. Rebekah achieved a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television Production from the University of Southern California School of Cinema-TV where she was awarded the Thomas Bush Cinematography scholarship.

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