Staff
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Mikayla Sarie - Museum Registrar and Collection Manager
Since graduating with her BA in anthropology, Mikayla has volunteered for various local museums processing special collections and archives, supporting genealogy and exhibit research, and organizing repositories and online databases. She aspires to preserve informational and cultural resources and utilizes her experience to enhance the accessibility of Edina's growing history within the museum’s collection. |
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Roan Twomey - Educational Programs Manager, Head Historic Interpreter
Roan is a native of Saint Paul and a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a BA in Art History. She is inspired by her work with the Historic Fort Snelling Fifes and Drums Corps, a group that performs period music from 1820 to 1945, to pursue a career in living history interpretation. Roan looks forward to working in Edina's beautifully preserved sites and exploring Edina's contributions to Minnesota history. Roan's studies focus on early US history, music, Asian art and historic costuming. |
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Raquel A. Dwyer, PhD — Executive DirectorDr. Raquel Dwyer is an archaeologist, writer, and public historian dedicated to illuminating the stories that shape Minnesota’s landscape and communities. As Executive Director of the Edina Historical Society, she leads initiatives that connect residents and visitors to the city’s rich heritage through dynamic exhibits, community partnerships, and hands-on public programs.
Raquel earned her PhD in Anthropology (Archaeology) from the University at Buffalo, where her research focused on paleoethnobotany—the study of ancient plant remains and their role in human culture. Her interdisciplinary work bridges science, history, and storytelling, exploring how people’s relationships with land and plants reveal the deeper threads of identity, resilience, and change.
Before joining EHS, Raquel contributed to museum collections management, archaeological fieldwork, and educational outreach across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. She brings to Edina a deep respect for local heritage, a passion for inclusive storytelling, and a commitment to revitalizing historical institutions as vibrant spaces for dialogue, discovery, and belonging.
When she’s not at the museum, Raquel can often be found exploring Minnesota’s rivers and cemeteries, tracing immigrant histories, or gathering inspiration for her creative projects that weave together folklore, foodways, and ancestral memory.
Raquel earned her PhD in Anthropology (Archaeology) from the University at Buffalo, where her research focused on paleoethnobotany—the study of ancient plant remains and their role in human culture. Her interdisciplinary work bridges science, history, and storytelling, exploring how people’s relationships with land and plants reveal the deeper threads of identity, resilience, and change.
Before joining EHS, Raquel contributed to museum collections management, archaeological fieldwork, and educational outreach across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. She brings to Edina a deep respect for local heritage, a passion for inclusive storytelling, and a commitment to revitalizing historical institutions as vibrant spaces for dialogue, discovery, and belonging.
When she’s not at the museum, Raquel can often be found exploring Minnesota’s rivers and cemeteries, tracing immigrant histories, or gathering inspiration for her creative projects that weave together folklore, foodways, and ancestral memory.
Internships
Please check back later for internship opportunities!
