Director & Co-Founder

Meg Hagen is a Franklin resident, community volunteer, and mom to two energetic boys, ages nine and six. She holds a Doctorate in Pharmacy from University of Connecticut and is passionate about bringing STEM education to children from a young age.

Meg spent five years living and working in Australia with her husband before returning to Massachusetts, where she stepped away from full-time work to focus on raising her children and giving back to her community.

She is the former chair of the Franklin Conservation Commission, as well as the Franklin Master Plan Committee, and has taught preschool at the Franklin Children’s School.

Meg co-founded Franklin Area Moms, a local parent network, and is passionate about creating spaces where families can connect, learn, and grow together.

You can reach Meg at meg@childrensmuseumfranklin.org.

Director & Co-Founder

Erin Gallagher is a Franklin resident, active volunteer, and mom to three spirited children, ages eight, seven, and four. She brings a marketing and communications background with experience across industries including higher education, financial services, and boutique professional services.

In the community, Erin serves on the Franklin School Committee, was a member of the Franklin Master Plan Committee, and volunteers as a foster care case reviewer for the Department of Children and Families. She also co-founded Franklin Area Moms, helping to build a strong network of support for parents in the region.

Erin’s passion for community building and creative learning spaces is at the heart of the Children’s Museum of Franklin.

You can reach Erin at erin@childrensmuseumfranklin.org.

Director of Development

Marissa is joining the Children's Museum of Franklin team as our first Director of Development. In this role, Marissa will be responsible for leading a comprehensive fundraising strategy that will advance the mission of the Museum. She is a career fundraiser, having led teams and secured critical funds for national organizations including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Susan G. Komen, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America - where she fell in love with youth development.

Marissa is a native of the area (Mansfield) and settled in Franklin after exciting life chapters in the Hudson Valley, Hoboken/New York City, and Atlanta. Her most inspiring chapter to date is the one she's currently living as a mom of two incredible, mischievous boys. She and her husband are proud to be parents of a person with Down syndrome and actively celebrate both of their children's unique abilities whenever possible. 

Marissa believes deeply in the power of community and is excited to continue blending her professional passion with her personal commitment to building a world that is better and brighter for all people.

You can reach Marissa at marissa@childrensmuseumfranklin.org

Director of Events

Christine is a proud mom of three—ages 8, 5, and 3—and treasures being part of their everyday adventures. Before motherhood, her career took a few twists and turns, each one shaping the person and professional she is today.

She began in hospitality management with a major hotel chain, thriving on the energy, organization, and the joy of bringing clients’ visions to life. Still, she knew something was missing. Christine had always had a heart for working with children, a passion she nurtured through years of volunteer work, and she felt called to make it her life’s work.

That calling led her to trade ballrooms for classrooms. By day, she worked as a project manager at a university, designing professional development programs for educators. By night, she earned her master’s degree in Elementary and Special Education. Soon after, she began teaching first grade in an inquiry-based learning environment—a role she cherished.

Life’s next chapter brought her to Franklin, to motherhood, and to the beautiful chaos of being a stay-at-home mom.

Today, Christine is grateful to see all her experiences – hospitality, teaching, and community work – woven together at the Children’s Museum of Franklin, where she combines organization, creativity, and a love of learning to help foster a space where children and families can explore, connect, and grow.