Marinela is a Mexican leader and cultural innovator who has profoundly influenced the museum landscape in Mexico and the USA. With over 18 years as the Director of the Papalote Children’s Museum, she transformed it in the 1990s into the world’s most-visited children’s museum, attracting over 20 million visitors. Additionally, she created “Papalote Móvil,” a traveling museum designed to reach all children in Mexico, including Indigenous communities. As the Chairwoman of Sietecolores, Marinela has developed 12 interactive cultural spaces worldwide, with high impact projects in Mexico, the USA, Panama, and Saudi Arabia. Her exceptional leadership and networking skills foster collaborations across borders, establishing important cross-cultural connections with various institutions in the USA. Her achievements include the Award for Cultural Patronage and the Award for Educational Leadership. As an advisor in the Human Capital area for G20 leaders, her work exemplifies the enduring friendship between Mexico and the USA, enriching educational experiences for diverse communities.

W. Richard West, Jr. is Founding Director and Director Emeritus of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian and President and CEO Emeritus, Ambassador, Native Communities, of the Autry Museum of the American West. He is a citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes and a member of the Society of Southern Cheyenne Peace Chiefs. West served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Alliance of Museums (1998 – 2000) and Vice President of the International Council of Museums (2007 – 2010). His current board affiliations include: Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums; Cheyenne and Arapaho Business Development Corporation; Cheyenne and Arapaho Museum Foundation; International Coalition of Sites of Conscience; Denver Art Museum; The MICA Group; and UCLA Institute of Environment and Sustainability. West previously served on the boards of the Ford Foundation, Stanford University, and the Kaiser Family Foundation. He has been awarded eleven honorary doctorate degrees.

Jojo Galvan is a PhD Candidate in History at Northwestern University and a Digital Humanities Fellow at the Chicago History Museum. Jojo’s experience includes working as an archivist for the Midwest Nursing History Research Center, where he led the Mapping Care Project, a digital humanities platform of oral histories, research, and archival mapping focused on the history of Black nurses in Chicago. He also served as project manager for the former AAM Excellence in Exhibition Label Writing Competition. His work in museums also includes teaching Spanish-language museum studies courses to adult learners for the Illinois Humanities Odyssey Project, a no-cost higher education program for underserved communities. Jojo is a steadfast believer in the power of museums to transform and reaffirm individual and collective identities for the greater good. To that end, he also operates a museum consulting business focused on Spanish-language translation of gallery text and educational materials.

Neecole Gregory is currently the Museum Director at the Morton Museum of Collierville History, the Gallery Coordinator of the Martha & Robert Fogelman Galleries of Contemporary Art, and an adjunct instructor in art and art history. With a background in Classical Studies, Archaeology, and Museum Studies, she is passionate about preserving and interpreting history for diverse audiences while advocating for her fellow emerging museum professionals. Through her work with the National Emerging Museum Professional Network, Neecole champions inclusivity, equitable compensation, and professional development. Her expertise includes developing award-winning exhibitions, overseeing collections, and creating innovative programming that highlights the rich histories of marginalized communities. She is committed to making museums more accessible, inclusive, and reflective of the communities they serve.

Rahim Thompson is the Senior Program Manager at the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center (IHMEC), where he leads high-impact public programming, projects, and global social justice initiatives. In four years, he has spearheaded more than 200 public programs, 11 exhibition grand openings, two global anti-hate initiatives, and cultivated more than 100 community partnerships, engaging tens of thousands worldwide. His leadership has driven record-breaking attendance and programs featuring Pulitzer Prize and Emmy Award-winning talent, helping position IHMEC as a national leader in dynamic Holocaust and human rights education. His success earned him a promotion and the opportunity to join the project team expanding the Museum’s award-winning Survivor Stories Experience, which uses advanced interactive XR technology to preserve and share survivor testimonies. Recognized as a 2024 PMI Future 50 Honoree, he is celebrated as one of the world’s top rising project leaders, shaping the future through team building, innovation, and strategic impact.

MaryAnn Guoladdle Parker is a curator, artist, and beadworker from the Kiowa Tribe. She currently works as an Assistant Curator at the First Americans Museum (FAM) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She holds a Master’s of Cultural Administration with a focus in Arts Administration and Tribal Museum & Cultural Center Administration from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), as well as a bachelor’s in American History with a focus on Native American History from Oklahoma City University (OKCU). MaryAnn is a lifelong participant within her Kiowa community and brings that experience along with her formal education to benefit her professional work in museums. She is committed to preserving and sharing her Kiowa lifeways with the younger generation and honoring her ancestors within her work. Additionally, MaryAnn is the 2023-2025 treasurer for the Native American Art Studies Association (NAASA).

Denisse Brito is a museum educator committed to fostering meaningful connections with art. As the Learning and Engagement Manager at the University of Arizona Center for Creative Photography, she brings enthusiasm and creativity to her project, designing engaging experiences for diverse audiences. Denisse collaborates with Southern Arizona communities to create programs that reflect various perspectives and stories. She prioritizes engaging, educating, and inspiring curiosity, ensuring that museum content is accessible and relatable, encouraging deeper understanding and personal reflection. By incorporating multiple languages into her work, she helps visitors connect more deeply with the art and its context. Additionally, Denisse advocates for mentorship, having mentored over twenty students in building practical skills for careers in the museum field. Her outreach efforts have supported increased community participation and introduced new visitors to the transformative power of art. With a thoughtful approach to museum education, Denisse continues to demonstrate how art can inspire personal connections and create lasting memories.

Rachael Gurwan Tamngin is a graduate student at the University of Washington pursuing her doctorate degree in Sociocultural Anthropology. She is of mixed background – Pacific Islander and White – from the Micronesian Island of Waqab (Yap). Her current research explores intersections between museums, Anthropology, Pacific Studies, and health. Rachael is interested in centering within her practice the many systems and institutions in place that prevent Pacific Islander communities from accessing culturally responsive and sustaining resources. She believes that museums, sites of historical and continuing colonial violence, have the potential to host transformative “counterspaces” that allow Pacific Islander students to enact community building and healing.