5 minute read
Behind the Scenes with Coco Moseley
Each month, "Behind the Scenes" features an interview with a leader in our community designed to provide readers a glimpse into his/her interests and passions inside and outside of the workplace
This month, "Behind the Scenes" sat down with Coco Moseley the Executive Director at the Henry Sheldon Museum in Middlebury
What is your hometown?
I live in Lincoln, VT, in an 1820s farmhouse that has been in my husband’s family since the 1950s when his grandmother moved to Vermont from Maryland.
Where did you go to school?
My graduate degree is from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and my undergraduate degree is from Wheaton College in Massachusetts, however I also took classes at Bennington College and the University of Accra in Ghana.
First ever job?
My first ever job was horse related. As a teenager, I used to rent out my pony for kids’ birthday parties and give pony rides. It was actually lucrative and helped fund many of my horse endeavors.
I also had a short stint galloping Thoroughbreds for a racehorse breeder and trainer and my day started at 4AM, so I could exercise the horses before having to be in school for 8AM.
Favorite Vacation Spot?
Indian Lake in the ADKs is my current go to vacation spot. I love to do long distance lake swimming and the pristine nature of the ADKs is perfect for that!
Who was your greatest inspiration growing up?
My grandmother was a huge inspiration to me as a kid. She taught me a lot of life skills that I have come to really appreciate. When she taught me to drive, she hitched up the horse trailer to the old Jeep Wagoneer (manual transmission) and made me back down the driveway. I still remember her saying “this would be a whole lot easier if you stopped crying!”.
Who do you most admire?
As a former librarian, I think a lot of my most admired folks are authors. I love contemporary fiction writers like Ann Patchett, someone who can highlight the little miracles that happen all around us amid the banality of everyday life. For the sake of brevity, I won’t go into my long list of favorite authors, but if you are curious, reach out! I still love to talk about books.
Favorite movie, TV Show?
Oh, I’m a total nerd and absolutely love the new All Creatures Great and Small on PBS Masterpiece. I cannot get enough of the Yorkshire Dales and the farm stories, as well as the sweet quirky family that emerges from the vet practice. And I must put in a plug for the world of slow tv, l like BBCs Gardeners’ World or the time I watched a Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation special where a boat travelled up the Norwegian coastline with absolutely no plot, just views of the stunning scenery of the fjords and the yellow and red houses that dot the landscape.
Typical work week?
I am in and out of the Museum on any given week, often meeting with community members for morning coffee or a lunch date. I also spend a good bit of time at my desk on the third floor of the Museum with a beautiful view of Middlebury, as well as time spent working with my wonderful colleagues on the many aspects of running the Museum.
Biggest Career Challenge?
I think there is always an inherent challenge of juggling my professional work with my identity as a mom and a community member. I’m hopeful that we are building a modern professional culture that sees the various hats people wear outside of their paid work as an asset and an opportunity.
What's the greatest career risk you have taken?
When I started graduate school, I was in a PhD program. When I finished my Master’s, I felt certain that I did not want to be an academic. I lacked a clear plan for what I would do instead, but I packed up my car and drove back to Vermont to spend a summer working on an Icelandic sheep farm and making lacto-fermented pickles and sauerkraut to sell at a local farmers market. It was a stunning contrast to academia, but I found I am at my best when I have hands-on projects that engage my full self. In a roundabout way, it is why I am excited about the opportunities at the Sheldon, to not only think about what a 21st century community museum can be, but then to work with a team to realize that vision.
Favorite type of music?
I listen to a lot of podcasts and especially like Jill Lepore’s The Last Archive. As far as tunes go, I am mostly an Americana/folk fan and always appreciate a little fiddle.
What's the one thing you would like to see change in your business/industry?
I hope to bring a stronger sense of the public’s connection and investment in the Museum as a space that is accessible, welcoming, creative and a venue for curiosity.
