Cindy Drake, the former chief librarian at the Nebraska state historical society, was recently appointed interim director by Gov. Jim Pillen, earning both praise and complaints from current and past staffers. (Paul Hammel for the Nebraska Examiner)
LINCOLN — Two years after being fired at Nebraska’s historical society, Cindy Drake is back at the agency, this time as its interim executive director.
Drake, 67, had opposed the policies of the former director — who is now facing felony charges for misappropriating a private donation — that led, in large part, to her dismissal after 45 years of serving as the chief librarian at the Nebraska State Historical Society.
In July, Gov. Jim Pillen appointed Drake to the $136,449 a year post as an “interim” director, calling her “the right person to fill this role” and someone “familiar with (the Society’s) operations … who could be immediately responsive.”
Meanwhile, the search for a permanent director — with an unnamed timeline — remains underway for the agency, which collects and preserves state history, is the official state archives, publishes a quarterly magazine and operates a state history museum in Lincoln and six other historic sites across the state.