Christy S. Coleman is a tireless advocate for the power of museums and narrative correction. She’s an innovator in the museum field having held leadership roles at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the Wright Museum of African American History, and the American Civil War Museum. She now serves as the Executive Director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.

Ms. Coleman is the recipient of numerous awards for her decades of impact, including four Honorary Doctorates. In 2018, Time Magazine named her one of the 31 People Changing the South and in 2019, Worth Magazine named her one of 29 Women Changing the World. In 2023, she received the David McCullough Prize for Excellence in American Public History.

She’s also an accomplished public speaker and has appeared in award-winning documentaries including Grant, Abraham Lincoln, Black Patriots: Civil War Heroes, When the Monuments Came Down and Kevin Costner’s The West. In her spare time, she’s a historical consultant for film and television. Most recently she’s worked on the award-winning film Harriett, Showtime’s miniseries Good Lord Bird, and the upcoming miniseries, The Gray House.

Throughout more than three decades of distinguished service, Christy S. Coleman has established herself as one of America's foremost public historians, museum executives, preservation leaders, and interpreters of the nation's history. Her career has been defined by visionary leadership of nationally significant museums and historic institutions, unwavering scholarly integrity, and an enduring commitment to making history accessible to diverse audiences.

Ms. Coleman will talk about how Historic Hotels can make their histories and stories more relevant to their guests, communities, and employees.