Staff

Sarah Taggart –  Executive Director

Sarah joined HSP in the the summer of 2022. She oversees all of HSP’s operations. Sarah is our primary advocate, fundraiser, and spokesperson – providing inspiring leadership and vision to advance HSP’s mission. Sarah, a native New Jerseyan, comes to HSP from the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation, where she served in various positions – including Curator and Executive Director – over the past twelve years. With degrees from Mercyhurst University, The University of the Arts, Rutgers University, and Cornell University, she has brought her passion for history to museums and cultural organizations across the Philadelphia region. 

Eve Mandel – Director of Programs and Outreach

Eve has been charged with developing and expanding HSP’s programs and partnerships, as well as providing a fun and educational visitor experience, since May 2011. She manages the Visitor Services operation at Updike Farmstead, overseeing our Admissions Associates and Walking Tour Guides. She develops curriculum and teaches a wide range of education programming for schools throughout central New Jersey; in addition, she plans and teaches a menu of programs for adults and the general public at our site and in the community. Eve is also responsible for HSP’s community relations, managing all press, social media and public relations, as well as building collaborations with other non-profits and service organizations. Eve earned her BA at American University and her Certification for Teaching at the College of Saint Elizabeth; prior to joining HSP’s staff, she held positions at the Morris Museum and National Constitution Center.

Stephanie Schwartz – Curator of Collections and Research

Stephanie Schwartz is the Curator of Collections and Research at the Historical Society of Princeton. Prior to becoming Curator in 2016, Stephanie served as HSP’s Research Assistant, answering all external and in-house inquiries using the HSP collection. She now oversees all collections management and research services at HSP. She also works with staff to develop museum exhibitions and collection-based programming. Stephanie holds a BA in History and a certificate in Museum Studies from Connecticut College, and an MS in Archives Management from Simmons College. She has also worked at HBO, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the New Jersey State Archives, and the Mercer County Library System.

Kristen Lombardo – Manager of Operations

Joining HSP in 2014, Kristen’s role encompasses the diverse responsibilities involved in overseeing the daily activities and administration of Updike Farmstead, as well as managing donor and financial databases. In addition, Kristen spearheads the annual fund drive, orchestrates various events and fundraising initiatives, and serves as the primary liaison for volunteers at the Sipprelle Unity Garden. She holds an MBA from Rider University and earned her BA in Political Science and Russian Studies from the University of Rhode Island.

Paul Davis – Collections and Research Assistant

Paul joined the staff at HSP in 2018. He is responsible for handling all research inquiries, using HSP’s collection, and assisting the Curator in implementing HSP’s Collections Management Policy. Paul previously worked as a Research Historian at the David Library of the American Revolution and served as a Research Project Manager from 2012 to 2015 at the Museum of the American Revolution. Prior to his career as a historian and researcher, Paul worked in the securities industry where he worked in Investment Operations and as a Compliance Supervisor. Paul received his BA from Dickinson College where he majored in History and Economics. He also holds Master’s Degrees from St. Joseph’s University (MBA) and Villanova University (History).

Leanne Hunter –  Private Events Manager

Leanne joined the HSP staff in February 2018. She administers the private event rentals program at the Farmstead, including weddings, birthday parties, corporate, and non-profit events. Leanne also assists with HSP’s fundraising events and other programs. Leanne moved from Toronto to Princeton in 2003 with her family, where she has been active in the community volunteering for many non-profits, and auditing classes at Princeton University. Prior to working at HSP, Leanne held roles as Communications Manager at the Watershed Institute and Awards Coordinator at Princeton University Press. Before moving to Princeton, Leanne was a Broadcast Sales Representative for the Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC).  Leanne received her Advertising and Marketing Communications Diploma at Centennial College in Toronto.

Sophie Zaidman –  Museum Assistant

Sophie joined the HSP team March 2023. She assists in educational programming and outreach, collections management, developing social media content, leading public and private walking tours and overseeing visitor services during museum hours. Sophie previously worked as a Community Engagement Intern in the education department at the Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library, as well as a Collections Intern for the Marshall Steam Museum. Sophie holds a B.A. from the University of Delaware with a degree in American History and certificate in Museum Studies.

Heather Jahrling – Museum Interpreter 

Heather joined HSP in 2022. In addition to managing museum visitors, she assists in educational programming, outreach, and curation. Heather is currently a Ph.D. candidate specializing in twentieth-century American urban and technological history at Princeton University. She graduated summa cum laude from Colby College in 2021, double majoring in History and Science, Technology and Society (STS). While at Colby, Heather served as Editor-in-Chief of the Colby Echo and interned in the Curatorial Department of the National Museum of Bermuda. 

Ava Lombardo – Visitor Services Associate

Ava joined the HSP team in May of 2024. She greets and manages visitors during open hours, helps maintain the Sipprelle Unity Garden, and assists with various HSP events. Ava is currently a high school senior, a member of the National Honors Society, President of her school’s Rotary Club, and a member of the Environmental Club.

Cindy Srnka – Museum Educator

Since 2021, Cindy has greeted and managed visitors to the museum at Updike Farmstead. In addition, she leads HSP’s public and private walking tours of town and campus. In her previous roles at Grounds For Sculpture and the Historic Village at Allaire, Cindy has had extensive experience in various departments, including Development, Education, Curatorial, Exhibitions, Guest Services, Marketing & Finance. She studied at Mercer County Community College and was later accepted to the University of Pennsylvania as a recipient of the Bread Upon the Water Scholarship, receiving a full academic scholarship. She is a current Bachelor of Arts candidate in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations with a minor in History/History of Art. In addition to work and studies she contributes time to various archaeological projects at the Penn Museum and is a field team member of the Bat Archaeological Project in Oman. She currently holds a position on the Penn Museum Student Exhibition team to work with Penn Museum staff in co-curating the exhibition Heritage in Our Hands: UNESCO 50 Years Later now on view through March 2023.