Kidzu Children’s Museum is a hands-on museum dedicated to inspiring young children and the adults in their lives to learn through creative, purposeful play.
Kidzu’s 8,500 square foot space is multi-sensory, play-centered, and focused on providing area children and their families, teachers, and caregivers an ever-changing menu of exhibits and programs that inspire creativity, collaboration and community.
Our Team
Jamie DeMent Holcomb
Jamie DeMent Holcomb is the former Chair of the Board at Kidzu and is currently serving as the museum’s Chief Executive Officer. She is a native North Carolinian with years of experience in museums, non-profits, fundraising and organic farming. Jamie completed her degree as a Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Melanie Hatz Levinson
Melanie Hatz Levinson joined Kidzu in 2007 and has overseen the museum’s expansion from a 2000 to 10,000 SF facility. She received her BA in Art History from the University of Michigan, and holds graduate degrees in Art History and Archaeology from Columbia University and the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University.
Kailey Singleton
Kailey Singleton has over 8 years experience working with adults and children with special needs and worked as a vocational specialist. She’s also volunteered for over 4 years at a therapeutic horseback riding program. She has been with Kidzu since August 2015.
Charlotte Dungan
Charlotte Dungan has worked with Kidzu since 2014 in expanding our STEM programming, makery options, and innovative capacity. She holds an Ed.M. in Learning and Teaching from Harvard University, was a computer programmer for ten years, and still finds wonder in helping kids be makers and creators with technology.
Sabrina Varney
Sabrina has served in multiple capacities with Kidzu since 2013. She has a BS from UNC and previous non-profit experience working with children. In her free time, she plays volleyball and tackles home improvement projects.
Hannah Stewart
Hannah joined the team in 2019 but has volunteered since 2017. She has educational design experience from interning at the NCMA and as an international teacher in Thailand. Hannah has a BFA from East Carolina and recently finished her masters in Museum Studies from Johns Hopkins University.
Tanya Day
Tanya has a background in elementary school education and informal museum learning environments. She holds a BS in Education from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas, and a MA in Museum Studies from Newcastle University.
Darien Cropper
Darien (she/her) studied Anthropology, Art History, and Museum Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. She joined Kidzu in 2019 and plans programs in addition to promoting events through various marketing channels. Darien is now completing her M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications through West Virginia University.
Merisa Tomczak
Merisa is a professional archivist with a Masters’s of Science degree in Library and Information Science from UNC. She has applied her records management proficiency to a variety of development and communications needs at Kidzu since 2019.
Allie Lee
Allie has been a part of the Kidzu educational team since 2019. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Victoria in her home province of British Columbia. She loves to garden and does volunteer work for community and school gardens.
Alex Mavrogenis
Alex joined the Kidzu team in 2021. She graduated from Elon University with majors in Political Science and International & Global Studies, and Minors in Peace & Conflict and Women’s & Gender Studies. She is very excited to make your experience and Kidzu warm and welcoming!
Savita Madan
Savita Madan has been with Kidzu since 2021, when she started as an intern through the Masters program in Educational Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship at UNC-Chapel Hill. Prior to her MA, she worked at the NIH and obtained a BS from UNC in Psychology, with minors in Neuroscience and Medicine, Literature and Culture.
Samantha Shannon
Samantha (she/her) has a Master’s in Early Childhood Education and has spent the past 10 years working with young children and their families. She brings her education and experience to The Nest, where she curates the space, creates the programming, and facilitates the play sessions.
Peyton Metzler
Peyton (she/her) has been part of the Kidzu team since 2021. She is currently earning her Bachelor’s in Arts Education at UNC-Chapel Hill after previously studying Communication Design at the University of Cincinnati.
Andrew Kaplan
Andrew Kaplan (he/him) started at Kidzu in 2022 as an intern before joining the regular staff. He has eight years of childcare experience through Karate, Summer Camps, and Youth Groups. He graduated from UNC in 2022 with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies and a minor in History.
Tyler Dennis
Tyler joined the Kidzu team in 2022. He has over a decade of experience as a STEM educator, and loves practicing creative skills in the Makery!
Jamie Mastin
Jamie Mastin (she/her) was a preschool teacher for 15 years before joining Kidzu in 2021. She holds a BA in Psychology from Guilford College, and is also a professional papercrafter. She is passionate about sharing her love of books with children!
Our Board of Directors
The Kidzu Board of Directors is a volunteer group of experts from the business, education, legal, development and non profit communities. The Board of Directors meets once a month and the Board Committees meet various times throughout the year.
Betsy Bennett, Co-Chair | Mary Stowe, Co-Chair | Jeff Fisher, Vice Chair
Ellen Stolzman, Secretary
| Roberto Blanco, MD |
| Elizabeth Broyhill-Morris |
| Lorna Chafe |
| Charles Coble |
| Elaine Foster |
| Steve Friedman |
| Emily Gangi |
| Dianne Jackson |
| Mark Kleinschmidt |
| Will Lloyd |
| Jon Mills |
| Emily Newman |
| Meg Robinson |
| Ed Spence, MD |
Museum Circle Members
The Kidzu Museum Circle is a group of valued community members advising and supporting Kidzu as we work to enhance learning through play and make sure we have a “museum for all” for our community. We couldn’t do this work without their support. Please contact Kidzu’s CEO, Jamie DeMent Holcomb, with any questions.
| Abdullah and Asuman Antepli |
| Todd Boyette |
| Ken and Margie Broun |
| D.R. and Fran Bryan |
| Catharine and Wood Burns |
| Anthony Carey |
| Moses Carey and Peggy Richmond |
| Bill Chafe |
| Maggie Connolly |
| Hans Flinch and Nan Nixon |
| Alexander and Meagan Julian |
| Betty Kenan |
| Thomas S. Kenan III |
| Howard and Lillian Lee |
| Joel Levy |
| D.G. and Harriet Martin |
| NC Rep. Graig Meyer |
| James and Susan Moeser |
| Scott Morris and Elizabeth Broyhill-Morris |
| Sharon Palsha |
| Florence and Jim Peacock |
| Rep. David Price |
| Stanley and Marion Robboy |
| Bill Ross and Susan Gravely |
| Susan and Tom Ross |
| Jim and Mary Sasser |
| Samia and Mohamed Serageldin |
| Sallie Shuping-Russell |
| Lee Smith and Hal Crowther |
| Joseph and Marilyn Sparling |
| Amy and Michael Tiemann |
| Barbara Tyroler and David Cooper |
| Jerry and Sondra Van Sant |
| Roger and Ann Waldon |
| Rosemary and Gary Waldorf |
| John Watson and Betsy Blackwell |
| Pam Zornick |
Press & Media
Awards
#1 Best Children’s Museum Near Heather Glen, NC | Zaubee.com (2023)
3rd Place: Top Places to Take Kids in the Research Triangle | KidsOutAndAbout.com (2022)
Best Museum | Chapel Hill Magazine Readers’ Favorites (2021-2022)
Best Place to Host a Children’s Birthday Party | Chapel Hill Magazine Readers’ Favorites (2021-2022)
Recent Press Releases
May 9, 2023 | Kidzu invites your whole family to celebrate the possibilities of the museum’s expansion
March 27, 2023 | Kidzu Children’s Museum leads families through interactive reasoning games at March 31st “Let’s Talk About It” session
February 24, 2023 | Kidzu Children’s Museum is celebrating its 17th birthday with a museum-wide party on March 5th, 2023
November 22, 2022 | Kidzu Children’s Museum officially opens its new early learning environment, The Nest, designed for children ages 0-3 and their caregivers
November 7, 2022 | Kidzu Children’s Museum celebrates GivingTuesday, joining millions around the world participating in the global generosity movement on November 29, 2022
August 30, 2022 | Kidzu Children’s Museum Brings the World of The Questioneers to Life in Chapel Hill, NC
Recent Video Segments
October 19, 2022 | CBS17’s My Carolina and Kidzu CEO Jamie DeMent Holcomb visit Kidzu’s new traveling exhibit, The Questioneers: Read. Question. Think. PLAY!
September 27, 2022 | Kidzu’s Programs & Communications Coordinator, Darien Cropper, talks about the museum’s upcoming outdoor programs.
Media Contact: Please send all media inquiries to Kidzu’s Programs & Communications Coordinator, Darien Cropper.