By James Miller 

Dalene Hodnett continues to work as the director of museums for a fourth year in hopes of improving the educational material and public interest of the Casper College museums.  

Hodnett is enamored by the information that is preserved between the walls of a museum. 

According to Hodnett, “A museum, in my opinion, is the best way to have informal education. Informal education where homeschoolers, students, families come in, and they find something that they’re passionate about, and they pursue that interest. And we are fortunate at both museums to have terrific educators that can answer all kinds of questions. I love that environment where families are learning together, bonding, coming together and just experiencing something collectively.” 

One of Hodnett’s favorite museums she’s been to is the Museum of the Cowboy. Hodnett praised the art and preserved artifacts the museum offers. Additionally, she enjoyed the nature of the museum. According to Hodnett, the museum even offered food reminiscent of what people in the time period ate. 

“They had someone doing Dutch oven cooking outside, and it was during the Western Union Festival. There was music at the same time. So just all those things combined, I think, made that one of the most rewarding museum experiences,” said Hodnett. 

Hodnett didn’t always live in Wyoming. In fact, she began her life in New Mexico. She attended New Mexico State University for college and gained experience there in museum work. Hodnett originally planned on majoring in journalism before realizing her true calling was in a museum. 

Hodnett worked at Fort Caspar before moving to Texas and New Mexico again to pursue work at other museums. She has returned back to Casper after working at various museums including the American Quarter Horse Museum in Amarillo, Texas . 

Hodnett stressed her desire to work at the same school as her husband, and she claimed to have interest in the director of museums’ position partially for this reason. 

“My husband was retired, and I was looking for another opportunity. Dean Hoff from the School of Science mentioned that there was an opportunity,” said Hodnett, “Those jobs both came available at the same time, so when we came to interview, we came together.” 

The role of director of museums does not call for as much involvement in the experiences and displays at both museums as specialized roles do. Hodnett’s role focuses much more on the promotion and operation of the museums. 

According to Hodnett, “My main job is to just publicize their efforts and make sure that the public understands what the Tate and the Warner Museums are doing, the events that we’re hosting, making sure that attendance is up and people are aware of the museums.” 

Hodnett’s impact can be felt by everyone involved with the museums at CC. Harriet King, museum aid at the Warner Wildlife museum, expressed their thoughts on Hodnett so far. 

“She’s great,” said King. “I’ve known her for two months. {She’s} just real personable and helps you out whenever you need something.” 

Hodnett couldn’t pick a favorite between the two museums at CC. Instead, she expressed how both museums offer everyone the ability to learn more about geology, paleontology, taxidermy and wildlife. She also likes how both the Tate and Warner museums host events that allow guest speakers to attend. 

Russel Hawley, a staff member at the Tate Museum, spoke highly of Hodnett as the director of museums. He praised the work Hodnett has done so far as the director of museums and what she’s done at the Tate Museum. 

“I’ve been here for 30 years, so I’ve seen something like five directors come and go during my time. They haven’t all been of equal quality, but I’d say that Deline is the best one we’ve had yet,” said Hawley. 

Hawley also praised Hodnett for how she helps run the museums at CC. He likes that 

Hodnett doesn’t hinder his ability to work, and she collaborates with everyone to find solutions. 

“She never micromanages, and she’s always very appreciative of the staff. She’s very good about giving props, kudos when they are deserved, encouraging us and letting us know that our work is appreciated,” Hawley said. 

Hawley said he was amazed by Hodnett’s ability to manage different areas of the Tate Museum. He praised her ability to handle museum funding as well as the events at the museum.  

“We are, of course, always strapped for money. It’s always a challenge for a small museum like our own. Dalene seems to be really good at making the money that’s invested in this museum go far and to be spent effectively. But she’s not stingy. When there is something that really would do us well to invest in, she’s on board with that,” said Hawley. “One of the first things that she approved in terms of budget expenditures is the gigantic bronze bird standing in our lobby there. It was one of the first things to happen during Dalene’s leadership here. JP and I heard about this. We were already familiar with the artist, Gary Staub. He’s brilliant. One of the best paleoartists out there. We’d heard that this was available, so Dalene had already earmarked some funds for a program of some sort or another. JP and I told her, listen, this is an opportunity we may not have again like ever, and it would be appropriate, eye-catching, a great thing to have in the middle of that lobby there and it’s a Wyoming fossil critter.  We really think that we should go for it, so she went ahead and put up the funding to get the big, big bird. I think it has thrilled and delighted every school child who’s come through those doors since then.” 

All in all, Hodnett plays a significant role at CC. She earned the respect of her colleges and associates, even though she is only in her fourth year as the director of museums. In her own words, “I love the Tate Museum. I love working with both the Tate Geological Museum and the 

Warner Wildlife Museum because it’s a great opportunity for students at Casper College to get their hands on museum work without having to be in a four-year college, and so they have an awesome opportunity here to go on digs, to work in the prep lab, to work in our gift shop, so they get experience in geology, paleontology, retail, marketing, all those kinds of things, and I enjoy being in that environment with students.”