Meet Our Staff
Susan Lynn
Executive Director
Favorite Exhibit/Program:
Cornelius the corn snake!
Childhood Book I Enjoyed:
"Enchanted Castle" By E. Nesbit
Game(s) I Liked To Play:
I loved playing cards with my grandmother!
Fun Fact:
I still have my childhood love of climbing - rocks, trees, mountains, you name it!
Hannah Hausman
Senior Director, Development & Communications
Favorite Exhibit/Program:
Bubbles! They are beautiful, fantastical and make my son smile.
Childhood Book I Enjoyed:
I love so many, but if I had to pick I'd say: Lyle, Lyle Crocodile
Game(s) I Liked To Play:
Red Rover!
Fun Fact:
I auditioned for Ringling Brothers Clown College when I was 18.
Leona Hillary
Director of Education
Favorite Exhibit/Program:
The garden and our Seeds & Sprouts program because we are able to grow food, eat, play, get dirty, and learn about nature!
Childhood Book I Enjoyed:
"Where the Wild Things Are" - by Maurice Sendak
Game(s) I Liked To Play:
I enjoyed playing dress-up in any way! I wore tutus and hats and would put on fashion shows! Playing real estate and climbing on the jungle gym were also my favorite things to do!
Fun Fact:
I am an artist too! I paint, draw, and build sculptures from trash. Making things at the Museum is great because it’s always more fun with friends!
Hector Solis
Facilities Manager
Favorite Exhibit/Program:
The pepper and chile beds in the planting area
Childhood Book I Enjoyed:
I never read.
Game(s) I Liked To Play:
"Black Ops" on Xbox 360
Fun Fact:
I like to dance cumbia and rancheras!
Asis Gonzalez
Museum Educator
Favorite Exhibit/Program:
Cornelius and his feedings! Because Cornelius is a fun danger noodle!
Childhood Book I Enjoyed:
"Magic School Bus" (Any)
Game(s) I Liked To Play:
Hide and Seek
Laurie Kornely
Museum Educator (Early Childhood)
Favorite Exhibit/Program:
Bubbles! I love making bubbles & watching the faces of kids when they see them so big or so many. (Plus, it's fun to watch them pop them.) I could spend hours making bubbles.
Childhood Book I Enjoyed:
"In the Night Kitchen" by Maurice Sendak
Game(s) I Liked To Play:
Hide 'N Seek
Fun Fact:
One year I decided to surprise my mom on the Fourth of July by riding my motorcycle from San Francisco to Orange CA, 462 miles along Highway 101. It was an amazing experience & my Mom was so excited to see me!
Barbara Schwarz
Finance Manager
Favorite Exhibit/Program:
I love any of the water play exhibits! They remind me of the hours and hours I spent at the neighborhood pool. Water is the best!)
Childhood Book I Enjoyed:
"The Shoemaker and the Elves" (and "Miss Rumphius," which I read to my kids)
Game(s) I Liked To Play:
Hopscotch!
Fun Fact:
I was the first New Year's Baby in my town.
Norma Flores
Manager on Duty/Fun Facilitator
Favorite Exhibit/Program:
I love our earthworks, there is a lot to play with.There’s a music plaza, an adobe playhouse, a sand pit, and the horno where sometimes we cook veggies from our garden. You can also see lizards,butterflies, birds, and the beautiful flowers.
Childhood Book I Enjoyed:
"The Five Chinese Brothers" by Claire Huchet Bishop
Game(s) I Liked To Play:
Mancala
Fun Fact:
I like to watch and draw anime, one of my favorite shows is Avatar the last air bender!
Xochitl Garcia
Fun Facilitator
Favorite Exhibit/Program:
My favorite exhibit would have to be the bubbles because it brings me back to being a kid. Bubbles are such an underrated activity that we forget we enjoyed when we were younger.
Childhood Book I Enjoyed:
My favorite childhood book is, "Where the Wild Things Are."
Game(s) I Liked To Play:
Freeze Tag!
Fun Fact:
I played Varsity sports since middle school.
Chelsea Darter
Development Assistant
Favorite Exhibit/Program:
The Garden because it's a multisensory experience where you're encouraged to get dirty.
Childhood Book I Enjoyed:
"The Giver" by Lois Lowry
Game(s) I Liked To Play:
Anything where I could use my imagination. I loved to create and perform my own commercials and TV shows.
Fun Fact:
I'm a photographer! I love telling stories through images!
Maria Vazquez
Museum Maintenance
K. Lopez
Digital Marketing & Special Projects Manager
Favorite Exhibit/Program:
The programs like "Wee Explorations" where toddlers are able to experience the magic of the museum are great!
Childhood Book I Enjoyed:
I liked those that were interactive, such as "Magic Eye," "Where's Waldo" or "Search & Find" activity books.
Game(s) I Liked To Play:
I'd play anything from kickball to "colored eggs," or even pretended to be a chef in a fake restaurant. I especially enjoyed playing catch, basketball, & chess with my dad.
Fun Fact:
I've been skydiving over the Rocky Mountains & bungee jumping 3x off of California's Bridge to Nowhere.