About

Our Team

Jamie DeMent Holcomb

Chief Executive Officer

Jamie DeMent Holcomb is the former Chair of the Board at Kidzu and is currently serving as the museum’s Chief Executive Officer. She is a native North Carolinian with years of experience in museums, non-profits, fundraising and organic farming.  Jamie completed her degree as a Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Melanie Hatz Levinson

Chief Creative Officer

Melanie Hatz Levinson joined Kidzu in 2007 and has overseen the museum’s expansion from a 2000 to 10,000 SF facility. She received her BA in Art History from the University of Michigan, and holds graduate degrees in Art History and Archaeology from Columbia University and the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. 

Kailey Singleton

Director of Operations

Kailey Singleton has over 8 years experience working with adults and children with special needs and worked as a vocational specialist. She’s also volunteered for over 4 years at a therapeutic horseback riding program. She has been with Kidzu since August 2015. 

Charlotte Dungan

Director of Digital Learning and Innovation

Charlotte Dungan has worked with Kidzu since 2014 in expanding our STEM programming, makery options, and innovative capacity. She holds an Ed.M. in Learning and Teaching from Harvard University, was a computer programmer for ten years, and still finds wonder in helping kids be makers and creators with technology.

Sabrina Varney

Administrative + Special Projects Manager

Sabrina has served in multiple capacities with Kidzu since 2013. She has a BS from UNC and previous non-profit experience working with children. In her free time, she plays volleyball and tackles home improvement projects.

Samantha Shannon

The Nest Manager

Samantha Shannon (she/her) is an early child educator with over a decade of experience working with children and their families. She has an M.Ed. in Education and Human Development, a B.Ed. in Child Development and Family Studies and a B.A. in International Studies. Samantha brings her education and experience to The Nest, where she curates the space, creates the programming, and plans and facilitates play sessions. She is also involved in the research and planning for Kidzu’s expansion and state-wide outreach programs.

Tanya Day

Education Manager

Tanya has a background in elementary school education and informal museum learning environments. She holds a BS in Education from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas, and a MA in Museum Studies from Newcastle University. 

Margaret Prost

Design and Marketing Coordinator

Margaret joined the Kidzu team in 2023 and received her BA in the Fine Arts from Loyola Marymount University. She has a passion for graphic design and learning difference awareness.

Merisa Tomczak

Visitor Services & Database Coordinator

Merisa is a professional archivist with a Masters’s of Science degree in Library and Information Science from UNC. She has applied her records management proficiency to a variety of development and communications needs at Kidzu since 2019.

Allie Lee

Outdoor Learning Coordinator

Allie has been a part of the Kidzu educational team since 2019. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Victoria in her home province of British Columbia. She loves to garden and does volunteer work for community and school gardens. 

Jessica Irvine

Camp & Programs Coordinator

Jessica joined the education team in 2023 as the Camp and Program Coordinator. She has years of experience facilitating programming with school aged children in afterschool programs and weekend programs for children with neurodivergent needs. 

Savita Madan

Makery Coordinator

Savita has been with Kidzu since 2021, when she started as an intern through the Masters program in Educational Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship at UNC-Chapel Hill.  Prior to her MA, she worked at the NIH and obtained a BS from UNC in Psychology, with minors in Neuroscience and Medicine, Literature and Culture.

Griselda Martinez

Education, Outreach, and Volunteer Coordinator

Griselda holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Wingate University and an M.A.T. in secondary education from Notre Dame of Maryland University. She has been involved with volunteering and community engagement since college. 

Andrea Gatt

Development and Grants Coordinator

Andrea Gatt works in Development and Grants at Kidzu. She holds a BA in Print Journalism from the University of Maryland College Park and has a background in journalism, children’s book publishing and fundraising. Her favorite nonprofit project was creating an outdoor classroom at her children’s school. 

Margaret Prost

Design & Marketing Coordinator

Margaret has a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from Loyola Marymount University and has a background in design. She has a passion for education and learning difference awareness.

Allie Lee

Outdoor Learning Coordinator

Allie has been a part of the Kidzu educational team since 2019. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Victoria in her home province of British Columbia. She loves to garden and does volunteer work for community and school gardens. 

Jessica Irvine

Camp & Programs Coordinator

Jessica joined the education team in 2023 as the Camp and Program Coordinator. She has years of experience facilitating programming with school aged children in afterschool programs and weekend programs for children with neurodivergent needs. 

Savita Madan

Makery Coordinator

Savita has been with Kidzu since 2021, when she started as an intern through the Masters program in Educational Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship at UNC-Chapel Hill.  Prior to her MA, she worked at the NIH and obtained a BS from UNC in Psychology, with minors in Neuroscience and Medicine, Literature and Culture.

Our Board of Directors

The Kidzu Board of Directors is a volunteer group of experts from the business, education, legal, development and non profit communities. The Board of Directors meets once a month and the Board Committees meet various times throughout the year.

For more information on the Kidzu Board please contact Kidzu’s CEO, Jamie DeMent Holcomb.

Betsy Bennett, Co-Chair | Elizabeth Broyhill-Morris, Co-Chair | Ellen Stolzman, Secretary 

Roberto Blanco, MD
Roy Campbell
Lorna Chafe
Charles Coble
Elaine Foster
Steve Friedman
Emily Gangi
Dianne Jackson
Will Lloyd
 
Emily Newman
Meg Robinson
Mary Stowe
Ed Spence, MD

Museum Circle Members

The Kidzu Museum Circle is a group of valued community members advising and supporting Kidzu as we work to enhance learning through play and make sure we have a “museum for all” for our community. We couldn’t do this work without their support. Please contact Kidzu’s CEO, Jamie DeMent Holcomb, with any questions.

Abdullah and Asuman Antepli
Todd Boyette
Ken and Margie Broun
D.R. and Fran Bryan
Catharine and Wood Burns
Anthony Carey
Moses Carey and Peggy Richmond
Bill Chafe
Maggie Connolly
Hans Flinch and Nan Nixon
Alexander and Meagan Julian
Betty Kenan
Thomas S. Kenan III
Howard and Lillian Lee
Joel Levy
D.G. and Harriet Martin
Pam Zornick
James and Susan Moeser
Scott Morris and Elizabeth Broyhill-Morris
Sharon Palsha
Florence and Jim Peacock
Rep. David Price
Stanley and Marion Robboy
Bill Ross and Susan Gravely
Susan and Tom Ross
Jim and Mary Sasser
Samia and Mohamed Serageldin
Sallie Shuping-Russell
Lee Smith and Hal Crowther
Joseph and Marilyn Sparling
Amy and Michael Tiemann
Barbara Tyroler and David Cooper
Jerry and Sondra Van Sant
Roger and Ann Waldon
Rosemary and Gary Waldorf
John Watson and Betsy Blackwell
 

Media Contact: Please send all media inquiries to Kidzu’s Design & Marketing Coordinator, Margaret Prost.