Executive Director

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Juniper Leherissey

Executive Director

Juniper Leherissey has followed a passion for art and creativity back to her hometown of Taos. She spent many hours at the Harwood Public Library growing up. After dedicating her career to non-profit arts, Juniper took the helm of the museum in 2019 to make a difference in the community that she loves.

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Philanthropy & Engagement

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Sonya Davis

Director of Development

Sonya Davis has been at the Harwood since 2017, having come from Florida where she spent the previous five years as a fundraising and organizational development consultant. Prior to her consulting work, she served as the Executive Director of the Pensacola Museum of Art and the Lighthouse Arts Center in Jupiter, both in Florida.

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Shemai Rodriguez

Marketing and Engagement Manager

Shemai Rodriguez is descended from two generations of Taos painters. Additionally, her family has lived in Taos for centuries, giving her a deep connection to art, the land, people and special blend of cultures. Being surrounded by the art at the Harwood Museum is a very personal experience for her as she advances her passion for serving the community she loves.

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Exhibitions & Collections

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Nicole Dial-Kay

Curator of Exhibitions & Collections

Nicole Dial-Kay came to the Harwood Museum in February 2020 with a passion for curating exhibitions that reflect the diversity and talent that exist in Northern New Mexico.

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Christopher Albert

Collections Manager

Christopher Albert joined the Harwood Museum of Art in 2013. Chris’ personal passion for the arts and his attention to detail makes him a perfect steward of the Harwood Museum’s art collections and loaned art objects.

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Emily Santhanam

Curatorial Assistant

Emily Santhanam (Chickasaw/Tamilian) comes to the Harwood Museum of Art with a passion for decolonial museum practices and collaborative programming. She worked for the Chickasaw Nation as a curator of exhibitions and education from 2017 through 2020, organizing cultural, historical, and fine arts exhibitions.

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Katy Ballard

Preparator

Katy Ballard has an appreciation for art history as well as what it takes to get art on the walls. Katy joined the Harwood team in 2018 and has installed dozens of exhibitions. She also supports curatorial research satisfying her curiosity to learn about the historic and contemporary art and artists of Taos and the surrounding communities.

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Dave Ryan

Preparator

Dave Ryan comes to the Harwood Museum with over 40 years of museum experience in Colorado and New Mexico. Dave grew up in Albuquerque and began his museum career at the Maxwell Museum at UNM.

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Education & Programs

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Gwendolyn Fernandez

Curator of Education and Public Programs

Gwendolyn Fernandez is a compassionate educator who advocates for centering care and community in museum practices. She comes to the Harwood with 15 years of experience working collaboratively to develop programs, design interpretive strategies, and foster diverse teams that serve museum audiences of all ages and abilities.

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Christina Neubrand

Education Coordinator

For almost 20 years Christina has worked with students ages 5-85 using exercises, activities, and interactive games integrated with Social Emotional Learning to curate performances, educate, develop curriculums, improve speech, foster effective communication, build social emotional strategies, and integrate creativity using tools and techniques from her years as an actor, singer, dancer, and director in the performing arts.

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Hannah Cloepfil

Public Programs Coordinator

Hannah Cloepfil is a cultural producer, designer, and facilitator whose natural gift for bringing people together translates into the creation of one-of-a-kind, collective experiences. She believes in the power of art and activation to facilitate conversation, illuminate ideas, and inspire the unexpected.

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Francis Santisteven

Multimedia Services Tech

Francis Santistevan has a passion for acquiring new knowledge and experiences. Joining the Harwood team in 2019, he helps to bring Harwood’s programs to the public whether virtual or in the beautiful Arthur Bell Auditorium.

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Museum Store & Visitor Services

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Position Vacant

Museum Store and Visitor Experience Manager

We will be posting an opportunity to apply for this position soon.

Harwood staff Chrissy

Chrissy Rutkaus

Customer Services Associate

Chrissy Rutkaus enjoys being a part of the team that welcomes visitors to the Harwood Museum on a daily basis. She joined the museum staff in 2021.

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Anee Ward

Customer Services Associate

Anee Ward, a 25 year resident and artist of Taos, has always combined her love of culture, community, and commerce in her work. From playing a role in the first Seco Stroll and coordinating community lectures.

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Nancy Berk

Customer Services Associate

Nancy Berk Nancy’s passions include working with people; learning about and appreciating art in all its forms; and spending time with her grandchildren.

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Anja Marais

Customer Services Associate

Anja Marais has over twenty years of customer service experience in the art and design industry. She fell in love with art when she became a studio apprentice at age 11 for a local landscape painter for seven years. She received her formal art education in Studio Art and History of Art in Pretoria, South Africa.

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Operations & Facilities

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Susie Crowley

Operations Manager

Susie Crowley has always been inspired by the arts. With her interest in humanities and community, her work at the Harwood helps her stay connected to her love of art and of the people of Taos.

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Carlos Valdez

Operations and Facilities Manager

Carlos Valdez has enjoyed working on many types of construction and non-construction related projects. He finds the most challenging and rewarding to be the restoration of Taos’ historic buildings. He particularly enjoys incorporating modern techniques without changing the integrity or historical features of the buildings.

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Eric DeHerrera

Facilities Services Tech

Eric DeHerrera has a passion for working with adobe buildings. Since the Harwood Museum of Art is housed in a registered historic location, he enjoys the opportunity to preserve such a valued example of New Mexico’s traditional Pueblo Style architecture. He enjoys restoring old windows and doors and repurposing old or antique things.

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