Mount Vernon Ladies' Association Elects Philadelphian as New Regent

Sarah Miller Coulson to Lead the Board Responsible for George Washington’s Home

MOUNT VERNON, VA – The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association (MVLA) has named its next leader, electing Sarah Miller Coulson of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, to serve as its 22nd Regent, or chairwoman.  Her term began October 16, 2016.

“I am honored to accept this position and humbled to follow in the footsteps of the Ladies who have served this institution so remarkably since 1853,” said Coulson. “As Regent, I, along with a dedicated board and talented leadership, will continue to advance the mission of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association to protect and preserve the estate of George Washington, and to ensure that his legacy endures and thrives.”

A private, not for profit organization, the MVLA owns and operates the beloved 500 acre Northern Virginia home and gardens of our first president.  Since 1853, the Association has been governed by a national board comprised of 25 members, or Vice Regents, whom each hail from a different state. Coulson is the third woman from Pennsylvania selected to serve in this important position.

Before joining the board of the MVLA in 2011, Coulson enjoyed a long career as an entrepreneur and manager in the telecommunications and entertainment industries. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Columbia Business School, Coulson is also involved in various cultural and educational organizations, including the Johns Hopkins Medicine Board of Trustees and the board of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Founded in 1853, the MVLA is America’s first national historic preservation organization. The MVLA purchased Mount Vernon from the Washington family in 1858 and opened it to the public in 1860.  Since that time the estate has welcomed presidents, royalty, world leaders, and celebrities, along with thousands of soldiers, veterans, families, and schoolchildren from around the globe. With more than one million annual guests, Mount Vernon is the most visited historic home in America. 

In addition to the historic estate and related curatorial and archeological endeavors, the MVLA also operates the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington located at Mount Vernon.  The Washington Library, which opened in 2013, houses a trove of original documents and manuscripts and has rapidly become the leading center for Washington and MVLA scholarship. The Library also offers leadership training and professional development opportunities for teachers nationwide based upon the life and lessons of George Washington. 

For more information, visit www.mountvernon.org.

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