NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — The board of Kauffman Museum has appointed a retired educator and museum administrator to be the interim director of Bethel College’s museum.

Linda Schmitt of Hutchinson begins Jan. 2 and will continue until a new director is named. Annette LeZotte served as Kauffman Museum director for three years before resigning this past October.

Schmitt retired in 2015 as executive director of the Reno County Historical Society, where she served for nine years.

In that position, Schmitt oversaw both the Reno County Historical Museum and the Kansas Underground Salt Museum, including leading the 2012 re-branding campaign of the latter, now called Strataca.

Schmitt is a graduate of Hutchinson Community College and the University of Kansas, where she received a B.S. in social studies education. She studied at the University of Denver and completed a master’s degree in education in student personnel and guidance from Wichita State University. She also has a certificate in nonprofit management from WSU.

Schmitt has served as executive director of Visions of Hope Inc., Reno County’s Court-Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, program; as the student and family support specialist and crisis team coordinator for Educational Services and Staff Development Association of Central Kansas, or ESSDACK; and as a teacher, recruiter and trainer for Promise for All Cyber School based in Baltimore, in addition to her position with the Reno County Historical Society.

For more information on the Kauffman museum, visit www.bethelks.edu/kauffman.