Welcome Dr. Jessica Leeper and Parrish Hunt

The Sailing Museum & National Sailing Hall of Fame is proud to welcome Dr. Jessica Leeper as its new Executive Director. A distinguished historian with a doctorate in early U.S. history from the University of Oxford, Dr. Leeper brings a wealth of expertise in museum leadership, public history and heritage programming. Her career spans museum management roles in both the U.S. and England, where she has successfully curated exhibitions, led fundraising initiatives, and overseen visitor engagement at renowned institutions such as the Ashmolean Museum. With a deep passion for early New England history, material culture and community outreach, Dr. Leeper is poised to guide the museum into its next chapter, ensuring its legacy continues to inspire and educate. Dr. Leeper is excited to make Newport her new home, and she’s especially eager to discover more about the rich history of this beautiful and lively seafaring community. Her favorite pieces in the museum are the personal collection items related to the Hall of Fame Inductees’ sailing victories and inspiring stories. She also loves the two collection items in the museum that are related to the presidential Adams family, of whom her thesis is about. She loves reading biographies of American leaders, especially those in women’s history, and you can usually find her singing folk songs and writing historical fiction in her free time.

We are also excited to welcome Parrish Hunt as our new Visitor & Museum Services Manager. With a strong background in cultural institution membership coordination, visitor engagement and educational programming, Hunt brings a wealth of expertise to the role. As the membership coordinator at Battery Gadsden Cultural Center, she fostered lasting connections with members while developing engaging programming alongside the board. Her experience spans internships and seasonal roles at esteemed institutions, including the Woodman Institute Museum and Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, where she excelled in guest services, educational initiatives and event coordination. Armed with a master’s degree in history and museum studies from the University of New Hampshire and a deep commitment to creating vibrant and inclusive communities, Hunt is ready to enhance the museum’s visitor experience and bring its Armory to life. She is excited to see the visitors learn about the sport of sailing as they interact with our amazing exhibits. She and her cat, Zamboni, have already fallen in love with Newport and can’t wait to explore more.