Executive Director of President Lincoln’s Cottage & Co-founder of Legal Experts AI Become Board Members of the Nation's Longest Serving Lincoln Study Organization

Washington, DC (PRUnderground) June 24th, 2026

The Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia, one of the nation’s longest-running Lincoln study organizations, has elected Callie Hawkins, CEO & Executive Director of President Lincoln’s Cottage, and Sameer Somal, Board Director of the Abraham Lincoln Long Nine Museum and Abraham Lincoln Association, as new board members.

Founded by Lincoln scholars and elected officials in 1935, the non-profit organization is dedicated to studying the life, legacy, and vision of the 16th president. The Lincoln Group of DC’s venerated quarterly publication, The Lincolnian, edited by Wendy Swanson, has served as a formative resource for Lincoln scholarship and is part of the group’s mission to educate younger generations about Lincolnian principles of equality and liberty.

The addition of Ms. Hawkins and Mr. Somal was welcomed by Ed Epstein, Lincoln Group president. “We’re glad that Callie and Sameer have agreed to serve. Their energy, imagination and focus will be invaluable to our organization.”

Abraham Lincoln’s life and legacy remain as relevant today as in the turbulent era he navigated. Mr. Lincoln’s tenacity and adherence to morality have made his leadership through the nation’s gravest crisis a case study in perseverance, integrity, and justice. Lincoln’s writings and decisions continue to inform scholarship, law, and civic leadership, offering enduring lessons in humility, perseverance, and moral courage during moments of national crisis.

About Callie Hawkins

Callie Hawkins serves as CEO and Executive Director of President Lincoln’s Cottage, where she leads one of the nation’s most innovative historic sites dedicated to Abraham Lincoln’s life and legacy. She has been widely recognized for developing award-winning educational initiatives, exhibits, and public history programs that connect Lincoln’s story to contemporary civic dialogue. She also maintains an active collaborative relationship with The Lincoln Group of DC in support of historical education and public engagement surrounding Lincoln’s legacy.

About Sameer Somal

Sameer Somal is the founder of Abraham Lincoln Scholars, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving as a structured research database, organizing books, documents, and historical materials for Mr. Lincoln. He recently launched the Lincoln Unfiltered Series, with the first episode featuring Guy Fraker. Sameer maintains a longstanding proclivity for American history, civic leadership, and the preservation of the nation’s founding ideals. This work guides his speaking and writing engagements. In February, Sameer delivered a talk titled “Laughing Through the Darkness: Lincoln’s Humor in the Civil War” at the Macoupin County Civil War Round Table. Parallel to his Lincolnian pursuits, Mr. Somal is the CEO of Blue Ocean Global Technology and co-founder of Girl Power Talk and Legal Experts AI.

About Legal Experts AI

Legal Experts AI is a marketplace that redefines how legal resources are accessed, applied, and scaled in the digital age. With offices in Athens and Springfield, Illinois, it makes the legal world more open, accessible, and accountable. The platform connects clients with lawyers, law firms, paralegals, and expert witnesses, offering a clear path to credibility, visibility, and trusted engagement. Rooted in the spirit of Abraham Lincoln’s America, Legal Experts AI advances his legacy of justice, integrity, and service through modern innovation.

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Original Press Release.