Pieter Nicholson Roos

Visiting Professor, Administration

Pieter.Roos@oneonta.edu

M.A. SUNY Oneonta, Cooperstown Graduate Program

B.A. in Anthropology, Drew University

Pieter has been a museum professional for over 40 years. Pieter took up his first directorial role in 1998 when he was named as founding director of the Newport Restoration Foundation, a museum holding 81 historic properties, collections of European art, American fashion, and an outstanding collection of Newport furniture. Pieter led the Foundation for 18 years, where amidst many accomplishments he was the creator of the first national conference on climate change and historic preservation, Keeping History Above Water.  

In 2017, Pieter became Executive Director of The Mark Twain House & Museum, the Hartford home of Samuel Clemens and where he wrote his best-known works. He made substantial organizational, financial, and preservation improvements to this National Landmark while bringing it to the notice of a more national audience.  

Pieter also led a major project at Mystic Seaport Museum to create the Wells Boat Hall, answering his lifelong passion to work with vernacular watercraft and maritime history.  

Pieter’s expertise includes building and rebuilding museums, strategic planning, historic preservation, climate change, finance, earned income, and governance.  

Pieter has held adjunct faculty positions at both Brown and Harvard Universities. 

Pieter served on numerous boards, including the RI Preservation & Heritage Commission, Vernacular Architecture Forum, The Hartford Art School at University of Hartford, and Preservation Connecticut.