Peter Koch promoted to associate director of Mountain Heritage Center
Effective May 1, Peter Koch was promoted from the position of museum education associate to associate director of 甜瓜视频app鈥檚 Mountain Heritage Center.
Koch has worked at the Mountain Heritage Center since 1998. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in history and political science from Guilford College followed by a master of arts degree in public history from North Carolina State University. In 2015, the North Carolina Museums Council awarded Koch the Professional Service Award for his dedicated work to advance the role of museums in North Carolina. Today, Koch serves as the Western NC region representative on the Civil War Trails Inc. advisory board.
鈥淧eter has an excellent track record of developing original programming that connects our neighbors today with mountain communities of the past,鈥� said Amber C. Albert, executive director of the Mountain Heritage Center. 鈥淭his new role will enable him to further engage learners of all ages as he broadens the WCU Mountain Heritage Center鈥檚 community engagement.鈥�
Peter Koch
Koch鈥檚 new responsibilities include establishing and facilitating an advisory community board to provide strategic insights, foster collaboration, and support organizational goals; Act as a primary liaison with community stakeholders fostering relationships that enhance the organization鈥檚 visibility and impact in the community. In addition to his new responsibilities, Koch will continue to develop, present, and evaluate a variety of onsite and outreach educational programs on southern Appalachian history and culture for K-12 and college students, family, and adult audiences.
Koch will also continue to manage Mountain Heritage Day performers and demonstrators and plan festival educational activities with students and volunteers
鈥淥ver the years the Mountain Heritage Center has done more to support community entities and, with this new role, I鈥檓 looking forward to strengthening those relationships by providing an outlet for their stories,鈥� Koch said. 鈥淭here are always new and fascinating areas of mountain history to learn 鈥� difficult stories like incarcerated labor or Indian boarding schools, but also stories to celebrate like the Craft Revival of mountain crafts. I鈥檓 excited to learn more.鈥�
