Team : ABOUT : Washington State Jewish Historical Society

Executive Director

Lisa Kranseler
Phone: 206-774-2277
Email: lisak@wsjhs.org

Lisa believes that we make history every single day. And, she has produced programs and exhibits that celebrate that history. Lisa loves all the amazing connections and unique history of the Jewish communities in Washington State.

Lisa is committed to building partnerships and developing public awareness for the Washington State Jewish Historical Society. She has served on the board of the Association of King County Historical Organizations for over six years, received the Gus Norwood Volunteer Scholarship from the Washington Museum Association, won a fellowship from the Council of American Jewish Museum Association, and was awarded a grant by the American Association of State and Local History for Project Management at the Washington State History Museum. Lisa has taught in the Museum Studies Certificate Program at the University of Washington and currently serves on the Museum Studies Advisory Board.

Assistant Director

Cora Miller
Phone: 206-774-2277
Email: coram@wsjhs.org

Cora has volunteered and contracted with WSJHS developing and managing the Kline Galland Exhibit in the Washington Jewish Museum and assisting with programs and grants. She is now delighted to be part of the organization as a staff member. With expertise in community engagement, archival research and communications, she enjoys the discovery process and creating historical narratives that speak to individuals and communities as a whole.

Cora earned her Master's in History at the University of Toronto in 2019, where she focused on the Holocaust in Lithuania and has over seven years of experience working in the Jewish community. After four years in the Toronto area, she is excited to be back in the Pacific Northwest surrounded by her family, friends and large bodies of water.

Executive Assistant

Sara Mottaz
Phone: 206-774-2277
Email: saram@wsjhs.org

Sara joined WSJHS as a contractor in 2018 to help with the planning of the WSJHS 50TH Anniversary Agents of Change Gala and never left!

Coming from a completely different industry, Sara has found the world of preserving history, archives, digital exhibits, and oral histories not only fascinating, but important. She truly believes the WSJHS sentiment: “what is not saved will be forgotten” and invites everyone to participate in the preservation process.

Communications & Exhibit Curator

Kayla Boland
Phone: 206-774-2277
Email: kaylab@wsjhs.org

Kayla joined the WSJHS as a contractor in January 2022 and became a full-time staff member in June of the same year. She grew up in the South Sound and studied Art History & Photography at Seattle University. She earned a Master's Degree in Art History from the University of York (UK) in 2019.

She has a strong background in cultural heritage, having worked in both museums and art conservation. A storyteller at heart, Kayla's top priority as a heritage professional is accessibility and ensuring that everyone in the community she works with feels seen and heard.

Part-time Contract Archivist

Marissa Hiller
Phone: 206-774-2277
Email: archivist@wsjhs.org

A Seattle native and local artist, Marissa’s work focuses on connecting the present to the past, and working to preserve shared histories and community stories. She brings a creative approach to the WSJHS, with degrees in Art History and Library Science, having worked for NYU, the Art Students League, and more recently, the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City where she was the Archivist and Electronic Resources Librarian.