TAM 2026-2028 Council Slate
TAM Council Welcomes New Leadership for 2026
We’re excited to share that TAM’s new Council slate was officially approved by a majority member vote and took effect on March 1.
This year, we’re thrilled to welcome two new Councilors to leadership: Kate Betz, Principal of Story + Reason, and Shae Nawoj, Assistant Historic Site Supervisor at Log Cabin Village. Both bring valuable perspectives, experience, and energy to the work ahead, and we’re so glad to have them join the Council.
We also extend our sincere thanks to our outgoing Councilor, Kim Mahan (Amarillo Museum of Art), for her dedicated service to TAM. Her contributions have made a lasting impact, and we’re incredibly grateful for her time and leadership.
TAM’s strength comes from the commitment and collaboration of our Council, and we’re looking forward to another year of thoughtful leadership, big ideas, and continued support for museums across Texas.
Below, you’ll find our full 2026 Council slate, along with a spotlight on our newest Councilors.
2026-2028 Term
Spotlight on New Council Members
Kate Betz
Kate Betz is fascinated by the tangible marks people leave behind on places and things, igniting her curiosity about how things are made, how stories are told, and how things are connected.
With over two decades of experience in the field, Kate brings that passion and perspective into everything she does. As a principal at Story + Reason, she collaborates with partners to help them shape meaningful, relevant experiences, understanding the needs, opportunities, and challenges of different groups—and helping them work together toward a common goal.
Kate has previously worked in museums of all shapes and sizes in Texas, New York, and Connecticut, where she leads by example, rolling up her sleeves to do the work while guiding teams to create programs, exhibitions, and initiatives that earned national recognition for innovation and scholarship. Outside of consulting work, Kate teaches soon-to-be museum professionals, sparking conversations about the value of museums and the ongoing work needed to push the field forward. She has a BA in American Studies from Wesleyan University and an MA in History Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program.
Shae Nawoj
Shae Nawoj has a deep love for stories. From small stories we tell ourselves to larger national ones, stories shape the way we see the world and conceptualize our place in the larger story of humanity. It’s this love of narrative that has guided her public history career and continues to shape her work in the field.
As the assistant historic site supervisor at Log Cabin Village, Shae works alongside third person historical interpreters in sharing the (hi)stories of our collective 19th-century ancestors to connect with 21st-century visitors. Through these connections, Shae and her team engage visitors with a complicated past that considers and uplifts the wide diversity of voices and experiences that shaped the land we now call Texas into what it is today.
Shae has worked both as an intern and full time staff member at a variety of museums in Texas, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Virginia, and Wyoming. These experiences gave her the opportunity to serve the public from a variety of departments including collections management, exhibition curation, educational program delivery, and leadership. Her educational background includes studies in public history with an emphasis on 19th-century American history and memory with a BA from Sam Houston State University and an MA from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.