For all the wisecracks about what you can do with an English degree, Jones had no problem turning hers into her dream job. After getting her master’s degree in English with a focus on 19th-century literature at University of Virginia, she worked at Monticello, only to discover how much she enjoyed museum work and interpreting history.

Six months later when she moved to Richmond, the Poe Museum began looking for an executive director and she found herself doing exactly what she wanted. “I’m excited to take an aspect of Richmond’s history—the city where Poe grew up—and bring it to the forefront,” she says. “Come spring, we’re opening a new room, staging Poe’s childhood bedroom with his original bed.”

In many ways, Jones has transformed the Poe Museum, building a staff of 10, the largest the museum has ever had. “A lot of us are younger and many are from the area,” she says. “We’re an energetic, close-knit team and I’m proud of having developed that.”

Her goal has been to have the Poe Museum participate more actively in the city’s cultural identity by emphasizing the many reasons to celebrate Poe, as well as the more macabre side of the city. As a result, attendance at the museum is up 20% from before the pandemic and the number of school groups has also increased.

“I love how creative I get to be at the museum while engaging with American literature,” she says, mentioning the monthly Unhappy Hours that feature local breweries and musicians. “What keeps me energized is having the space to try out new programs and find new ways to engage with Richmonders.”

Jones says it’s an interesting time for museums as their roles shift from being archives and educational spaces to something more.

“We’re focused on serving the community and being an accessible space for them,” she says. “Museums are doing a lot of exciting things and if I’m lucky, in 40 years I’ll still be working in them.”