Erica Marin
Museum Director
Erica Marin is the first El Paso native and Latina to be appointed as a director of the El Paso Museum of History. She has been with the City of El Paso for four years and previously served as curator of the museum. During her time at the museum, Marin has been a critical driver in developing community-driven exhibitions that celebrate cultural and civic contributions by more diverse communities. The approach, which resulted in exhibitions like “Neighborhoods & Shared Memories: Sunset Heights” and “Low & Slow: Lowrider Culture on the Border” has correlated in an increase of attendance at the museum of more than 233 percent during the last decade. Marin holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts/Museum Conservation from New Mexico State University and a Master’s in Public History from The University of Texas at El Paso - UTEP. She is also a National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) Leadership Institute Fellow. Before joining the El Paso Museum of History, Erica Marin served as an Exhibits Curator for Las Cruces Museums, and an independent curator for Purple Gallery in El Paso. She is also active in the community as an artist, focusing her creative work primarily on identity and memory.
Jessica Sapien
Assistant Curator
Jessica Sapien is a native El Pasoan. After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of Texas at El Paso, Jessica worked at the El Paso Museum of History (EPMH) from 2019 to 2021 as the Marketing Clerical Assistant. In June 2021, she moved to Kansas City, Missouri to pursue her Master’s Degree in Public History at the University of Missouri - Kansas City. In September 2022, Jessica began working at the Johnson County Museum in Johnson County, Kansas as the Emerging Museum Professionals Intern. There, she primarily assisted with research for exhibitions and inventorying collection materials. She wrote articles published on the Museum’s blog and with the Johnson County Post on stories related to historically marginalized communities in the area. In 2023, she was awarded the Martha Jane Starr Library Research Award for her thesis research on Chicana zinesters in Texas who have used self-published zines to create dialogues on motherhood and social justice while cultivating a uniquely feminist community through the process. Jessica moved back to El Paso in June 2024 and was contracted as a Collections Archivist with EPMH. She will begin her position as the Museum’s Assistant Curator in October. She is excited to return to EPMH to assist in exhibiting histories that represent the many communities that make up borderland region.
Stephanie Gardea
Museum Registrar & DIGIE Administrator
Stephanie Gardea is a native El Pasoan and the Museum Registrar for the El Paso Museum of History. She has been with the City of El Paso for five years overseeing the Museum's collections. Stephanie also manages and curates the Museum’s unique digital wall, DIGIE, through which EPMH shares its collections and archival resources with the broader community. She received her B.A. in Art History from The University of Texas at Austin in 2017 as a Presidential Achievement Scholar and Gateway Scholar. In her time at UT, she practiced as a gallery curator at the Visual Arts Center and an archival intern at the Harry Ransom Center. In her work at the Museum of History, she hopes to amplify El Paso’s rich history by exhibiting the museum’s hidden treasures to share with the people of El Paso and visitors alike.
Alicia Aguilar
Visitor Services Assistant
Alicia Aguilar was born and raised in El Paso. Before working at EPMH, Alicia worked with the city of Socorro at the Rio Vista historical landmark turned community center where she assisted with the archival, preservation and maintenance of the Bracero program artifacts from the site. She also collaborated with the historical landmark commission whose mission is to maintain oversight of past, present and future building modifications to protect the site’s historical integrity. Ms. Aguilar is now our full time visitor services assistant and hopes to connect with the El Paso community and visitors alike to enrich their experience as they learn more about El Paso’s history.
Miriam Vega
Visitor Services Assistant
Miriam Vega is a native El Pasoan and Visitor Service Assistant for the El Paso Museum of History. Miriam has been with the City of El Paso since 2019. She graduated from The University of Texas at El Paso with a BFA in Drawing and Painting in 2018. Miriam is a graduate student at The University of Oklahoma focusing on Museum Studies. Prior to joining the EPMH team, Miriam facilitated free art workshops for the community, volunteered at local galleries, and curated several art exhibitions. Miriam aims to connect with all audiences who visit the El Paso Museum of History.
Nora Rose
Outreach & Education Supervisor
Nora Rose moved to El Paso in 2017 and currently serves as the Community Engagement Coordinator, leading outreach and public programming initiatives. Prior to joining the EPMH team, Nora worked for the El Paso Community Foundation, El Paso Chamber, and as a staff writer in New York City. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Barnard College, Columbia University and her Master of Education from the University of Virginia. In her position, Nora looks forward to welcoming new audiences to the museum through innovative events and educational experiences.
Quetzaly Segovia
Museum Curator
Quetzaly Segovia is a proud Chicana and serves as the Education & Curatorial Associate. Quetzaly previously worked at the Tom Lea Institute for three years as their Collections and Communications Manager, and also as their Education and Collections Manager before being promoted. In 2021, she received the Tom Lea Fellowship, which allowed her to curate her own exhibition titled, Ghost on Mount Cristo Rey: Urbici Soler and Tom Lea Exhibition. Quetzaly has a BA in History and a minor in Museum Studies and an MA in Latin American Border Studies from UTEP. In her new role, she hopes to continue the impressive work that the History Museum has been offering. Quetzaly is working towards representing marginalized individuals and communities through education, art, and exhibitions.
Mariana Briseño
Preparator
Mariana Briseño was born and raised in El Paso and is a Museum Preparator at the El Paso Museum of History. Mariana has always been interested in history, art, and museum studies. They received their B.A. in Art History from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2020. Before graduating, Mariana was an intern at the El Paso Museum of Art, where they learned curatorial and collections management practices. Prior to becoming a Preparator, Mariana served as an Art Handler and Gallery Technician. Mariana enjoys working cross-collaboratively with the entire EPMH team in creative ways that will amplify the rich history of El Paso and showcase the museum’s extensive collection. Mariana hopes to further contribute to the cultivation of community within the museum, and to inspire the broader region through the power of innovative exhibitions and history.
Alan Aguirre
Preparator
Alan Aguirre was born and raised in El Paso, Texas and moved to San Antonio to attend Trinity University. While at Trinity, Alan worked as a studio assistant for the print studio and practiced with a variety of traditional 2D and 3D art mediums. After receiving his BA in Fine Art in 2018, Alan worked as a gallery attendant at the San Antonio Museum of Art. While working at SAMA, Alan was able to interact with all the individual departments that run a museum as well as do summer research for the curator of the American Gallery. He previously served as art handler of the museum. Alan is fascinated by all the background mechanics that have to be done to complete all the wonderful exhibitions put on display at museums for guests and hopes to be a helpful part of that here at the El Paso History Museum.
Pete Campos
Museum Operations Assistant
Since 1983, Pete has worked in various departments within the City including: Parks & Recreation, Sun Metro, Streets & Maintenance, El Paso Museum of Art and the El Paso Zoo. With 40 years of experience and dedication to the City, Pete joins our operations team as the Museum & Operations Assistant.
