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Suffolk County Historical Society announces new executive director

Victoria Berger

Victoria Berger — a former corporate and non-profit manager with 18 years of experience as well as a historian and curator in her local community in Islip — has been named as the new executive director of the Suffolk County Historical Society.

Ms. Berger joined the Riverhead-based group in January, filling a vacancy left by former director Kathy Curran, who joined the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.

“It’s an honor to join the Suffolk County Historical Society, especially in this 130th anniversary year,” Ms. Berger said in a statement. “As the museum continues to makes its mark as the central historic resource center of central/eastern Long Island, I am excited for the important work ahead.”

Ms. Berger is a graduate of Willsey Institute, where she studied art and interior design. Prior to being hired by the Suffolk County Historical Society, Ms. Berger was program director of the Islip Arts Council. She also served as treasurer and curator of the Historical Society of Islip Hamlet.

Under her leadership, Ms. Berger expanded the society to include historic exhibits displayed across five community locations.

She was also curator for the permanent exhibit at the Town of Islip History Museum at Islip Grange and worked for the Town of Islip as curator and assistant to the town historian.

Her corporate leadership experience includes 12 years of combined management and buyer experience through a home improvement company, according to the Suffolk County Historical Society.

As executive director, Ms. Berger will oversee operations of the Suffolk County Historical Society’s museum and research library. One of her immediate responsibilities will be to raise funds and oversee construction of a new entrance wing that will provide handicap facilities and improved access throughout the building.

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Photo: Victoria Berger hanging a Hal B. Fullerton’s photo ‘Orient Alfalfa Field, 1909’ at the Suffolk County Historical Society on Thursday. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)