Joseph Govednik
Museum Director
Joseph has been museum director since July 2017. He is delighted to be part of a talented team of professionals, both with the museum and County. Joseph brings over 20 years of experience in business, heritage, and educational industries, combined with a passion for community, history, and forging organizational partnerships. Joseph has a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Sociology, and master’s degrees in Anthropology, Museum Studies, and Business Administration. In previous works, Joseph was involved with the California State University, Hayward, C.E. Smith Museum of Anthropology, California Academy of Sciences Department of Ornithology and Mammology, Lindsey Wildlife Museum, National Japanese American Historical Society, and most recently, Museum Curator at the Foss Waterway Seaport Maritime Museum in Tacoma. Joseph has held executive positions on many board and commissions, including the Washington Museum Association, Tacoma Waterfront Association, Heritage League of Pierce County, City of Lacey Historical Commission, and the Pacific Northwest Maritime Heritage Council. Since making Cowlitz County his home, he founded the Heritage Association of the Lower Columbia.
Email me: GovednikJ@cowlitzwa.gov
Joanna Roland
Office Manager
Joanna grew up in Longview and now resides in Kelso with her family. She graduated from Lower Columbia College in 2008. She attended Portland State University during the years 2013-2015 and worked in the offices there. Joanna enjoys engaging with our community through volunteering. She loves giving back to the community that enriches the lives of families in our area.
Email me: RolandJ@cowlitzwa.gov
Danielle Robbins
Education and Public Programs Coordinator
Danielle was born and raised in Longview, WA. She attended R.A. Long High School and Lower Columbia College, then graduated from Central Washington University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Museology minor. In 2007 and 2008, she lived in Chiang Mai, Thailand where she was a teacher at the Ban San Faan Children’s Home. She taught English, math, geography, P.E., and home room for the roughly 30 children between pre-school and grade 6. Upon returning to Longview, Danielle began volunteering at the Cowlitz County Historical Museum where she was hired as the Education & Public Programs Coordinator in May of 2009. She is also the Store Manager for the Museum’s small gift shop and the 3rd to 5th grade Sunday school teacher at her church. Danielle delights in working with children and finds nothing more enjoyable then the moment when a child lights up because they have learned something new.
Email me: RobbinsD@cowlitzwa.gov
Bill Watson
Collections Curator
Bill was raised on Mt. Pleasant in rural Cowlitz County, graduating from Kelso High School in 1997. He received an Associate’s Degree from Lower Columbia College in 1999 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from Washington State University in 2001. Bill began volunteering at the Cowlitz County Historical Museum in 2003, and was hired as the Curator in 2007. In 2017 he became an ex-officio member of the Cowlitz County Historic Preservation Committee. He co-authored the Images of America: Kelso book and has written several articles for the Cowlitz Historical Quarterly. Bill was married in 2015 and he and his wife are raising two children.
Email me: WatsonB@cowlitzwa.gov