Caitlyn Perry Dial is Director of Development at MSU Libraries and formerly the Executive Director of Michigan Women’s Historical Center and Hall of Fame. For over twenty years, Dr. Dial has worked in small museums and organizations across the state of Michigan, working directly with the public as an educator, curator, collections manager, and fundraiser.

Dr. Dial received her PhD in Public History at Western Michigan University. Her dissertation, about the Eastland Disaster, studies how personal memories of survivors, victims, and rescuers, have the ability to inform public memory several decades after a traumatic event occurs. She received her MA in History from Wayne State University where she wrote her Masters thesis on the labor of female sailors during the 18th century. She is also a proud Michigan State Spartan.

Dr. Dial serves as President of the Michigan Museums Association and Vice Chair for the Brighton Zoning Board of Appeals. She also serves as an alumni advisory committee member for the WMU and Wayne State University Departments of History.

Dr. Dial lives in Brighton with her husband Phil, two sons, Elliott and Theodore, and their rescue dogs, Junie and Boomer.

Committees: Planning/Fundraising and Public Relations

Term expires 12/2024