Conservation Staff

Kelly McHugh
Head of Conservation
mchughk@si.edu

  • MA, art conservation/art history, New York University Conservation Center of the Institute of Fine Arts; BA, art history and peace and global policy studies, New York University
  • Research interests: shared stewardship through collaborative conservation; collections access; cultural protocol policy; artistic revitalization

Susan Heald
Textile Conservator
healds@si.edu

  • MS, art conservation (textile major/objects minor), Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation; BA, chemistry and anthropology, George Washington University
  • Research interests: preserving textiles and clothing; making textiles accessible to communities and makers; promoting shared stewardship

Shelly Uhlir
Exhibition Specialist/Mountmaker
uhlirs@si.edu

  • BA, studio arts/photography with minors in art history/language (French/Chinese), Northern Illinois University
  • Research interests: design, fabrication, and installation of mounts for exhibition and photography; technical expertise in mountmaking standards and design review; mannequin-making; training in the art of exhibition mountmaking

Beth Holford
Objects Conservator
a href="mailto:holforde@si.edu">holforde@si.edu

  • MS, art conservation, Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation; BA, history, Towson University
  • Research interests: Community Loans Initiative; working with partner communities to enhance shared stewardship capacity

Caitlin Mahony
Objects Conservator
mahonyc@si.edu

  • MA, UCLA/Getty Program for the Conservation of Archaeological and Ethnographic Materials; BA, anthropology, Skidmore College
  • Research interests: advancing shared stewardship initiatives in conservation; caring for basketry; items made of hide; contemporary art; outdoor sculptures