Shannon Williams hired as director of Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center

Shannon Williams, who has served as the interim director of the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center (HPMEC) for the last year, has been named to the position on a permanent basis.

Williams came to ASU in 2016 after a career as parks and recreation director for the town of Piggott. That year, she became the bookstore manager for the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum. Since the beginning of 2020, she has served as HPMEC’s interim director. During her tenure, Williams has been successfully focused on outreach to K-12 classrooms.

“I’m pleased that Shannon has accepted the position as full-time director,” Dr. Adam Long, director of A-State Heritage Sites said. “She has been a strong member of our team for the past five years and has been great as interim director, even during very difficult times. I look forward to seeing the museum grow under her direction.”

“I’m excited to work with the museum in this new role,” Williams said. “I’ve loved watching the museum grow over the past five years, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.”

The Arkansas State University Heritage Sites Office develops and operates historic properties of regional and national significance in the Arkansas Delta. These sites provide educational resources for formal and informal learning, including serving as living laboratories for students in the university’s Heritage Studies Ph.D. program. In addition, they serve as economic catalysts in communities where they are located by attracting heritage tourists from around the country.

The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum tells the story of the internationally prominent Pfeiffer family and their son-in-law Ernest Hemingway, who penned portions of his famous novel “A Farewell to Arms” in Piggott. The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum is open Monday-Friday, with tours on the hour from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.