IHA Appoints Cassie Haynes as Executive Director

January 15, 2026

The Independence Hall Association (IHA) is please to announce the appointment of Cassie Haynes as its new Executive Director. A nationally recognized strategist working at the intersection of public history, civic media, and nonprofit leadership, Haynes brings deep experience guiding mission-driven organizations through periods of growth, transition, and reinvention.

Haynes is a facilitator, operator, and systems thinker whose work focuses on aligning vision with implementation — whether that means building new funding vehicles, strengthening governance structures, mapping collaborative ecosystems, or designing sustainable operational models. Over the past decade, she has advised philanthropic institutions, civic collaboratives, and cultural organizations on revenue strategy, leadership transitions, and values-aligned infrastructure.

As Executive Director, Haynes will oversee the stewardship and evolution of the Association’s flagship digital platform, USHistory.org, one of the most widely-used, free public history resources in the United States. Her role includes strengthening the organization’s financial sustainability, modernizing internal systems, cultivating partnerships, and expanding the reach and relevance of IHA’s educational work in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

“IHA occupies a unique space within public history, civic education, and digital publishing,” said Haynes. “USHistory.org has been a foundational resource for decades, and the opportunity now is to build on that legacy: expanding access, developing new programs and digital offerings, and ensuring the organization has the resources and infrastructure it needs to thrive long-term. My goal is to help more people encounter a full and authentic picture of U.S. history through mechanisms that are accessible, engaging, and meaningful to their lives today.”

James Cassano, Chairman of the Board of Directors, noted that the appointment reflects a strategic shift for the organization. “For the longevity and vibrancy of the organization we needed to hire an leader who can drive funding, direct strategy, and further development of USHistory.org. I am excited for the future of the IHA under Cassie’s leadership.”

Haynes is the founder and President of Plot Twist Consulting, where she has advised philanthropic and nonprofit leaders on governance, collaborative strategy, and revenue design. She previously founded and served as Executive Director of Resolve Philly, a nationally recognized collaborative journalism initiative advancing anti-racist and community-centered approaches to local news. She is a Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellow, has served as an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy & Practice, and held leadership roles with the City of Philadelphia.

A Boston Marathoner, record-holding powerlifter, and present seminarian, she holds a Juris Doctor from Northeastern University School of Law and a Master of Public Health from Tufts University School of Medicine.