Museum of Danish America Announces New Genealogy Center Manager and Project Archivist

My name is Eric Mortensen, and I recently joined MoDA as the Genealogy Center Manager and Project Archivist. I grew up in rural Audubon and just recently moved back to the area after living in New York City for 27 years. I previously worked for the Juilliard School as a music librarian for 10 years and as a web developer for CNN in New York. My educational background includes a BA in Music and German from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, and an MS in Library and Information Science from Pratt Institute in New York.  

I’m excited to start this new chapter in my life as a returnee to Iowa and a member of the MoDA team. Most of my ancestry is Danish, having emigrated from Denmark and settled in Audubon and Shelby counties in Iowa. The most recent immigrant in my family tree was my grandfather, who was born in Denmark and came to Iowa as a child with his parents and grandmother. The Danish-American experience is a big part of my heritage and something I’m proud to celebrate. Working at MoDA is an exciting opportunity for me personally to utilize my experience and skills as a librarian and apply them at the foremost Danish-American museum and cultural center in the United States.  

I have had the privilege to travel a great deal over the years. Most of my international travel has been to Europe, primarily Germany and Denmark, but I’ve also visited far-away places such as Thailand, Singapore, and Argentina. I enjoy going for walks, hiking, and spending time in nature. I’m looking forward to planting a large garden this spring and growing lots of fresh fruits and vegetables on my family’s acreage.