Meet the Glidden Homestead Board 
The Joseph F. Glidden Homestead & Historical Center is run by a 15-member board who bring diverse backgrounds and expertise to the leadership of the not-for-profit organization.

PRESIDENT
Jan Devore has lived in DeKalb since 2004. She completed a Museum Studies Certificate at NIU in 2012 and became involved at the Glidden Homestead at that time. She is the assistant director at the Flagg Township Museum in Rochelle. She is also a volunteer with Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois.

VICE PRESIDENT
Steve “Kepp” Johnson is a retired insurance investigator for Liberty Mutual companies. He has been a resident of DeKalb since 1966 and joined the Homestead board in 1998. Kepp serves on the Building and Restoration Committee, accepting the challenge to keep the age-old facilities in good working order.

TREASURER
Seeking a treasurer

SECRETARY
Gayle Wuori, a native of DeKalb and a graduate of Carthage College, is a long-time member of the board. She has been a speech and theater teacher, a public relations specialist, and only recently retired as a realtor in the DeKalb area for over twenty years. Strong interests at the Homestead include garden development, Homestead restoration, and exhibits.

DIRECTORS

Phil Bennett is serving his first term on the board, having joined in 2012. His background as owner of Home Buddies building and construction and general contractor for the Homestead’s Welcome Center construction makes him a perfect fit for the Building and Restoration Committee.

Sarah Glidden DeMink has served on the board since it began in the 1990s. Joseph F. Glidden was her great-great uncle. She grew up at the Glidden Homestead. As a retired school social worker, grandmother and historian, she is especially interested in developing educational programs about our barbed wire heritage and restoration of the Glidden Historic barn, Homestead, and grounds as exhibit centers and multi-purpose public sites.

Linda J. Fulton began her first term on the board in 2014. She brings to the Homestead a keen interest in history and a commitment to making DeKalb a wonderful place to live and learn. Linda is a graduate of NIU and has resided in DeKalb with her husband, Brian, for nearly fifty years. During that time, in addition to raising a family, she was employed at the Daily Chronicle and The MidWeek in advertising sales. Over the past 24 years she was employed by the DeKalb School District teaching a variety of subjects focusing on Language Arts and Social Studies at the middle school level. She is a past president and board member of Altrusa. 

Jeff J. Marshall is president/CEO of JJ Marshall Landscape Creations, Inc., a local design/build landscape firm. He received his BS in landscape design from SIU. His family has lived in DeKalb since the 1840s, making him the seventh generation to call DeKalb home. As a third great nephew of Jacob Haish, barbed wire is a part of his family's heritage. Jeff joined the Homestead board in 2003.

Jim Morel has served on the Homestead board since 1999, including three terms as president. He serves on various committees, has directed many of the Homestead restoration projects, and has assisted fund raising projects. He graduated from DeKalb High School and Northern Illinois University, and has been a local businessman for more than 40 years. He was an organizer of the DeKalb Area Rental Association and served as its charter president. Jim is active in the DeKalb Kiwanis Club, where he has twice served as president. Jim believes the preservation and development of the Homestead campus is an important legacy and asset to the greater DeKalb County and northern Illinois area. 

Christy Andrews is serving her first term on the board, having joined in 2024. Prior to founding Jubilee Artisans, Christy gained valuable experience in nonprofit management, serving as Director of Operations for an animal welfare organization and as a Village Trustee for Waterman. Her career highlights also include roles in talent acquisition, special projects in candidate experience, and career coaching, where she demonstrates her commitment to helping individuals achieve their goals.