The Detroit Historical Society has added four new employees. They are:
Kalisha Davis is the director of community outreach and engagement. She joins the society for two years as part of the Detroit Revitalization Fellows program, which matches talented mid-career leaders with Detroit civic, community and economic development organizations. Known professionally as a connector, storyteller, and innovator, Davis has worked in Washington, D.C., New York, and California with national organizations such as the Forum for Youth Investment and the National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education and Families.
Davis of Detroit earned her Bachelor of Science in journalism at Central Michigan University and her master’s in public administration from Bernard M. Baruch College, School of Public Affairs.
She returned home to Detroit for the fellowship, where she will work with community organizations, non-profits, schools, universities and businesses to develop special partnership programs. She will also lead the development and implementation of a robust calendar of programs for the Detroit 1967 Project.
Sarah Murphy is the new marketing and public relations manager. She brings marketing and communications expertise from 10 years of work in Detroit’s nonprofit arts community. Previously, Murphy worked in the marketing department at Wayne State University Press. Murphy has specialized in social media, digital initiatives, and publication design. She will lead the design and creation of the society’s promotional and advertising materials, assist in media relations, serve as webmaster of detroithistorical.org and oversee the society’s social media efforts.
Murphy, of Grosse Pointe Park, earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Michigan and her
Master of Arts in English from Wayne State University.
Marlowe Stoudamire, is the new director for Detroit 1967 Project and will lead development and cultivation strategies and
assist in communications and outreach activities for the society’s landmark Detroit 1967 Project. As the owner and chief engagement strategist of Butterfly Effect Detroit, Stoudamire brings more than 15 years’ experience with local, national, and multi-national companies in business development, community engagement, project management, and marketing.
Prior to launching his own business, Stoudamire served as chief of staff at the Skillman Foundation in Detroit and worked in leadership and analyst capacities with companies including Henry Ford Health System, Ford, Microsoft, and Kmart.
Stoudamire, of Detroit, earned his Bachelor of Arts in business administration from Wayne State University and his
Master of Science in accounting in international administration from Central Michigan University
Norma Jean Zaleski joins the society to oversee finance and human resources. Zaleski has held several senior finance positions for corporations including Altair Engineering Inc., Acument (formerly Textron Fastening Systems), and Honeywell’s Friction Materials business. She began her career as a CPA and worked in various positions at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she focused on mergers and acquisitions, advisory and assurance services.
Zaleski, of Troy, earned her Bachelor of Science in accounting from Western Connecticut State University.
