Clare Thorpe

Clare Thorpe earned a BA in Business Management with a minor in accounting from the University of Illinois Springfield, taking evening courses while working full-time for the State of Illinois.  Clare recently retired from the State of Illinois after 30+ years of service.

She has held many positions with the State of Illinois including budget analyst, internal auditor, public information officer and strategic planner.  For the last 18 years, Clare has served as the Guest Experience Manager at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Creating the division from its inception, Clare created a culture of leadership by example where a high energy atmosphere was demonstrated, and team members and volunteers enjoyed being a part of the Lincoln family.

In this role, she and her team greeted over 5 million guests, organized hundreds of events and researched and presented adjunct exhibits. Clare was also responsible for the ticketing fees and processes that were required to meet audit guidelines.

Clare grew up on a small farm in Fulton County, Illinois.  She is a current resident of Springfield, Illinois and has a daughter that attends Iowa State University.