Gunston Hall Hires Executive Director

The Gunston Hall Board of Regents and the Commonwealth of Virginia have hired Scott M. Stroh III as the executive director of the stately Lorton mansion of founding father George Mason. The Board fired Executive Director David Reese in April 2012, and since then there have been two interim directors and a successful effort by the Virginia General Assembly to have private donations increase the salary for the position. 

“I am honored and extremely excited about the privilege of joining the tremendous team at Gunston Hall”, said Stroh, who begins work on July 8. “George Mason and Gunston Hall offer inspiration, enrichment, and compelling opportunities to explore our humanity as individuals, citizens and as a community. I look forward to collaborating with everyone interested in and passionate about this amazing place, and can’t wait to get started.” 

The previous Executive Director made just over $80,000 a year, and the new salary is $103,200, according to Susan Blankenship, a spokesperson for Gunston Hall. The Gunston Hall Regent's Fund is supplementing the Commonwealth's salary cap with $17,024. 

Reese was let go last year after firing the longtime education coordinator and eliminating education programs. He was temporarily replaced by Gunston Hall archivist Mark Whatford and then Patrick Ladden, who was the program director at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. 

“Over the past year Gunston Hall has embarked on a renaissance”, said Gunston Hall First Regent Wylie G. Raab. “Interim Directors Mark Whatford and Patrick Ladden have increased programming and visitor traffic to the Plantation. The Board’s new mission has led to the development of a bold strategic plan and we are delighted that it will be defined and implemented by a dynamic, creative leader.”

Stroh's work history includes a stint as the Executive Director of the Milwaukee County Historical Society; Director and State Historic Preservation Officer, Florida Division of Historical Resources; Executive Director of the Roanoke Island Commission; and Curator of Historic Spanish Point, Osprey, Florida. He is also the Secretary of the American Association for State and Local History. 

Lucia Ferguson, president of the Mason Neck Citizens Association, was happy with the choice. "Excellent! Wonderful!" she said. "It sounds like he has the right kind of background to bring positivity to Gunston Hall." 

Stroh has a bachelor's degree in history from Randolph-Macon College and a master's degree in History from Middle Tennessee State University. He and his wife Celeste have two children.

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