About the Event

William Roka brings a wealth of experience working at museums and education nonprofits, with a stint in the tech world. As the South Street Seaport Museum’s public programs manager and historian, he played a critical role in helping the museum recover and reconnect with the public in the years after Hurricane Sandy. The opportunity to design innovative programs, create meaningful partnerships, and connect communities with the incredible city around them is what makes him passionate about the power of public history. He also worked on the Hamilton Education Program at the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and most recently at Giveffect, a software company that specifically serves nonprofits. In addition to his nonprofit work, William is an independent historian and writer, his research focusing on the history of travel and ocean liners in the early 20th century.