George Washington: America’s Enduring Icon

Denver Brunsman

Denver Brunsman is an Associate Professor and Chair of the History Department at George Washington, where his courses include “George Washington and His World,” which is taught annually at the Mount Vernon estate. 

He is the author of the forthcoming book George Washington and His World: Enslaver, Revolutionary, President (2026) and the award-winning book The Evil Necessity: British Naval Impressment in the Eighteenth-Century Atlantic World (2013), as well as co-author of a leading college and AP U.S. History textbook, Liberty, Equality, Power: A History of the American People (2016; 2020), among other publications. 

A retired Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves, his honors include the Oscar and Shoshana Trachtenberg Prize for Teaching Excellence and induction into the George Washington University Academy of Distinguished Teachers (2018) as well as selection to the College Board AP U.S. History Development Committee (2018-23; Higher Ed Chair, 2021-23). 

Sonya Cooper

Sonya Cooper is the Docent Program Manager for Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens.  Mrs. Cooper graduated Magna cum Laude from Baylor University with a degree in Museum Studies.

She has spent over 15 years managing volunteer programs and serving on education teams in museums.  She has been with Bayou Bend since 2023, and coordinates a team of over 200 docents.

Jennifer Hammond

Jennifer Hammond is the head of learning and interpretation, Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens. Ms. Hammond earned a B.A. in history, summa cum laude, from the College of William and Mary and a M.A. in American history from the University of Colorado. 

After earning an M.A. from the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture with a certificate in museum studies at the University of Delaware in 1997, Ms. Hammond was a member of the education department of Winterthur Museum for several years. She has also served as curator of education for the Hershey Museum in Pennsylvania and as the manager of interpretation and educator resources for the Experience Music Project Science Fiction Museum in Seattle. 

Since arriving at the MFAH in 2010, Ms. Hammond has been involved with many significant projects, including guided and self-guided tours, accessibility programs, and public programs such as the David B. Warren symposia and the Les and Carol Ballard lecture series.

Joey Milillo

Joey Milillo is Bayou Bend’s Senior Manager for Public Programs. He joined the Bayou Bend and Museum of Fine Arts, Houston team in 2005, serving in several education and program capacities before becoming Programs Manager in 2010. 

He oversees all manner of special events and education programs, including lectures and symposia, festivals, concerts, camps, workshops, and holiday series, for audiences of adults, children, and families. 

His work includes marketing and communication, logistics, creative oversight, and budgetary management. Prior to joining the MFAH team, he was the Education Programs Coordinator for The Ensemble Theater in Houston, Texas, and he attended the University of St. Thomas (2003 Outstanding Graduate in Drama).

Alissa Oginsky

Alissa Oginsky is the Director of K-12 Education at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. She is responsible for managing a team of amazing museum educators in supporting teachers and students nationwide. This important work is achieved through facilitating professional development programs for teachers, implementing signature student programs, and developing K-12 classroom resources. 

Prior to joining Mount Vernon in 2018, Alissa spent over a decade in various museum education roles, serving as an elementary and middle school teacher and as an educational leader in Social Studies curriculum across her district. 

She holds an M.A. in Art Museum and Gallery Education from Newcastle University and a B.S. in Elementary Education from York College of Pennsylvania.

Sara Sharp

Sara Sharp is the Program Coordinator Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Mrs. Sharp graduated from Texas State University with dual degrees in Public Relations and Mass Communication and in Marketing. 

She has a background in elementary education and branding. She has been with Bayou Bend since 2024, where she contributes to event programming, educational camps, volunteer coordination and digital tour development.