Tena Thomason, Special Events Coordinator, Received the University of Pennsylvania Museum's Director's Award for Exceptional Achievement

19 DECEMBER 2006, PHILADELPHIA, PA—Tena Thomason, Penn Museum’s Special Events Coordinator, is the latest recipient of the Director’s Award—established by the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology to honor exceptional staff and volunteer achievement. Dr. Jeremy A. Sabloff, Director of the University of Pennsylvania Museum, surprised Ms Thomason with the presentation this morning, at a weekly senior staff meeting.

“It is a real pleasure to present this award to Tena Thomason, whose dedicated work—way above and beyond the call of duty—has enhanced the Museum’s public presence for a decade,” said Dr. Sabloff.

Ms. Thomason, who came to Penn Museum in 1997, began as the assistant in the Events and Membership departments, working in that position until 2000, when she was promoted to Special Events Coordinator. In this position, Ms. Thomason has coordinated and run a myriad of public, member, scholarly, and staff events throughout the auditoriums, classrooms, and galleries of Penn Museum. From scholarly symposia to panel discussions, lectures and films, member’s nights, and popular “world culture days” like the annual Chinese New Year Celebration and the Celebration of African Cultures, Ms. Thomason’s department offers the Museum’s many audiences a wide variety of programming to complement the Museum’s world renowned collections and research.

Established in 1995, the Director’s Award has been bestowed on twelve other recipients: John F. Harris, Ruth Radbill Scott, Maude de Schauensee, Commune of Orgedeuil (France), M. and Mme. André Buffet, Elin C. Danien, Josephine Klein, Yener Yilmaz, Henry N. Michael, Ida Goldstein, Clarissa Pell, and John T. Murray.

The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, located at 3260 South Streets on the Penn campus in Philadelphia, is dedicated to the study and understanding of human history and diversity. Founded in 1887, the Museum has sent more than 400 archaeological and anthropological expeditions to all the inhabited continents of the world. With an active exhibition schedule and educational programming for children and adults, the Museum offers the public an opportunity to share in the ongoing discovery of humankind's collective heritage. For general information, visitors may call (215) 898-4000, or visit the Museum’s award-winning website at http://www.penn.museum.