Society of Automotive Historians

Automotive Design: Brian spent 25 years at General Motors, working with Cadillac, Opel, Chevrolet, Saturn, and Advanced Concepts. He was the lead designer of the Chevrolet SSR Concept, unveiled in 2000, and later became Vice President of Design at ASC (American Specialty Cars). His design work covered production vehicles, concept cars, brand identity, and new vehicle technologies.

Museum Leadership & Automotive History: Brian has held leadership roles at some of the country’s most respected automotive museums. He served as Principal Historian and Vice President of Education at the Automotive Hall of Fame, and at the National Corvette Museum, where he was Director of Education and Collections. He’s also worked with the AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and The Henry Ford. In 2026, he joined the Board of Trustees of the Packard Proving Grounds, continuing his dedication to preserving America’s automotive history.

Education: For more than 30 years, Brian has taught the history of automotive design at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, sharing real-world insight into the people, processes, and ideas behind the automobile. He has also taught at Wayne State University, Lawrence Technological University, and the Cleveland Institute of Art.

Brian is a past President of the Leland Chapter of the Society of Automotive Historians and continues to work as an active historian, educator, speaker, consultant, and advocate for automotive culture and design. He attended Indiana University and the College for Creative Studies (CCS) and is a graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He is currently engaged in visualizing the Automotive Design Experience for Detroit’s Riverfront.

I am passionate about the history of women in motorsport; my account of Lucy O’Reilly Schell’s efforts at the 1940 Indy 500 was published in Rare and Unique Vehicles (2024). I have presented at the Argetsinger Symposium on Motorsport History (2022, 2025) and Automotive History Live! (2026) and been an invited panelist at the annual conference of the National Association of Automobile Museums (2026). I am a recurring guest co-host on Motoring Podcast Network properties. 

I am currently pursuing an MA in Museum Studies through the Johns Hopkins University. Before I embarked on a career in automotive museums, I received my MFA in screenwriting from FSU Film and spent half a dozen years in Hollywood. I worked in story development, production services, and advertising. These experiences have profoundly shaped my museum practice and would inform on my approach as a member of the SAH’s Board of Directors. 

Given the opportunity to serve on the Board, I would prioritize our messaging around the value we provide to SAH members professionally and personally. I would use data (or help facilitate the gathering of data) to help identify what members and potential members would find most valuable. I would especially focus on identifying younger audiences and how we might cultivate future members. Not only will this widen our wonderful community, but it will also be key for our long-term sustainability. Thank you for your consideration.

Dean currently serves on the Finance Committee of the Minnesota Historical Society, which has total assets of over $349 million. His nonprofit board experience at the Minnesota Historical Society also included nine years as a director, treasurer, and committee chair. In addition, Nelson managed his former employer’s charitable foundation and acted as its corporate secretary. He also served as treasurer and membership director for a Horseless Carriage Club of America regional board.

Dean’s strong interest in Brass Era automobiles started at age 15, when his father, after much cajoling, bought him a 1909 Jackson touring car. This early exposure became a lifelong avocation, and he has now been an active automotive researcher, historian, and collector for nearly 50 years. In 2016 he published the book, Byron J. Carter: The Ingenious Inventor Who Founded the Jackson Automobile and Cartercar Companies. He is currently working on a project to document the sophisticated overhead-camshaft-and-valve engines designed by the Welch Motor Car Co., of Chelsea, Detroit, and Pontiac, Michigan, and the Jackson Automobile Company, of Jackson, Michigan. These motors powered Jackson’s racing cars during their impressive competitive career spanning 1908 through 1912. 

As SAH’s Social Media Chair, Clio has grown the SAH Facebook page visits 220% and increased engagement 130% since she began in May of 2026. Clio is passionate about getting people involved in automotive history and wants to increase the visibility and impact of SAH among younger audiences.