Educational Programs | Outreach Program | Field Trips
My name is Emily Dippie, and I am excited to be the Curator of Education for the Kentucky Derby Museum! I grew up in Louisville and am proud to contribute to preserving our local cultural history! After graduating from Pleasure Ridge Park High School, I received my degree in Art Education from Murray State University. Starting my career in the high school art classroom, I transitioned to work in community arts administration in 2020. I am excited to combine my passions for education and community outreach by joining the Kentucky Derby Museum in 2022.
My name is Chami Weeratunga, and I am proud to be the Museum Educator and Program Coordinator at the Kentucky Derby Museum. I am originally from Sri Lanka and moved to the United States in 2008 to go to college where I earned my Bachelors in Fine Arts and Master in Fine Arts degrees. While I was a college student, I started working at Museums and now this is my twelfth year working at a museum setting. Since I love Museums so much, I got my Master of Arts in Museum Studies in 2018.
I began my teaching career while I was pursuing my Master of Fine Arts degree. As a Masters candidate, I was given the opportunity to teach humanities courses to college students for two years. My next teaching opportunity started when I was working at the Kentucky Science Center where I was able to teach science to PreK through high school students.
I joined the Kentucky Derby Museum in 2019, and I love that I get to meet students from all over Kentucky and Southern Indiana. I have a true passion for working with our young learners and teaching them about the importance of the Kentucky Derby and the vast history around it. Since our programs are very interactive and engaging we have a lot of fun learning. I love kids and it fills my heart to come to work every day and hangout with awesome young learners.
When I am not at the Museum, I am at home in Corydon, Indiana with my son Tate and our two dogs, Bert and Coco. I enjoy creating art, cooking, watching movies and spending time with my friends and family.
Hi! My name is Mollie Gilin, I am the Outreach Coordinator at the Kentucky Derby Museum. I am from Goodrich, Michigan and graduated from Central Michigan University in 2020 with a degree in Public History. During my college career, I completed the Museum Studies minor program at CMU, where I was able to develop my skills as an educator and gain experience presenting a wide variety of programming. I started as the Outreach Coordinator in August of 2021 after interning at the International Museum of the Horse in Lexington, KY. I grew up around horses and have been riding in the Hunter/Jumper rings as long as I can remember. I am very excited that my job allows me to blend my passion for horses with my love of the “Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” and share my excitement for everything that is the Kentucky Derby with students in schools all across the state!