Naper Settlement welcomes former Elmhurst curator

Lance Tawzer, a specialist in the design and development of museum exhibits who most recently worked as curator at the Elmhurst History Museum, has been named Naper Settlement's first director of innovation and experiences.

Working in the museum field since 1998, Tawzer has participated in diverse projects across the United States, including work for the Field Museum, the Falls of Ohio State Park, the Jim Beam Visitor Center, The Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity and The Peggy Notebaert Museum in Chicago.

He spent nine years as curator in Elmhurst before accepting the new post in Naperville.

"We are thrilled to welcome Lance to Naper Settlement," said Donna Sack, vice president of community engagement and audience. "Lance has an impressive background in leadership and design, and we are looking forward to him having the opportunity to bring interactive and engaging content and experiences to the museum campus."

In his new role, Tawzer will contribute to the overall vision and direction of exhibit development and implementation by overseeing the creation of inventive, experiential exhibits that are interwoven with the overall museum experience. He'll be responsible for creating innovative experiences that reflect the strategy, mission and values of the organization.

During the past nine years in Elmhurst, he created compelling and relevant exhibitions that garnered national awards, including a Leadership in History Award from the American Association of State and Local History, and a MUSE award from American Alliance of Museums for an interactive multi-user touch table that interpreted the city of Elmhurst's history geographically through time.

The patron-friendly, pop-culture exhibits that Tawzer created included "Sweet Home Chicago" and "Sox vs. Cubs: The Chicago Civil Wars," to name a few. Many of Tawzer's exhibits also found success traveling to other locations.

Previous to the Elmhurst History Museum, Tawzer was a senior project manager for a large museum firm in Washington, D.C., where he managed multimillion-dollar museum exhibition projects that included new museums for the National Park Service and the Smithsonian. He also served as the director of design for Solid Light, a museum exhibit design and fabrication firm in Louisville, Kentucky.

"After nine years working to change the perception of what a local history museum can be and how it can attract a national and regional community, I look forward to the incredibly varied and vast potential that Naper Settlement provides," Tawzer said. "The only limit to our success here will be our ability to imagine and re-imagine ways to engage our patrons in meaningful ways both short and long term."

A native of the Western suburbs, Tawzer grew up in Wheaton and attended Elmhurst College.

Naper Settlement is at 523 S. Webster St. in downtown Naperville.