Kari Barley has been named interim director of the Pioneer Museum of Alabama.

At its Thursday meeting, the museum board named Barley, the museum’s assistant director, to fill the position vacated by Rachael Greve on an interim basis. Greve’s last official day was March 31.

Jeff Kervin, board president, said Barley has worked at the museum on a part time and fulltime basis and has proven herself to be a valuable asset to the museum.

“Kari is very capable and knowledgeable of all aspects of the museum,” Kervin said. “She is worthy of the opportunity given to her. We know she will do an outstanding job and are looking forward to working with her.”

Barley came on board the museum on Oct. 1, 2008 as a part time clerk in the museum’s gift shop.

“I was looking for a job and walked into the museum and I knew immediately that it was the perfect place for me,” Barley said. “It seemed like, from the very beginning, that it was meant to be.”

Barley is a history buff and enjoys learning about the lifestyles of the past.

“I love every aspect of the museum,” she said. “The Pioneer Museum of Alabama is such a special place. Our volunteers bring it to life with their knowledge and their stories. I love the museum with all my heart and appreciate so much the opportunity that the board has given me. I thank them for their confidence and will do my best to continue moving the museum forward.”

Barley said the museum’s spring planting event is the next on the calendar and two new programs are possibilities for the summer.

“Of course, our Pioneer Days is an annual fall event,” she said. “It’s an exciting time at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama and I’m looking forward to all the opportunities and challenges of being its interim director and to working with the people of the Troy and Pike County communities.”

Barley is a native of Troy and a 2006 graduate of Charles Henderson High School.

She attends Troy University where she is a business major. She and her husband, Brent Barley, make their home in Troy.