About Us

History

The Museum Educators of Southern California was formally founded in 1977 and obtained 501 (c)(3) status.

MESC is one of the oldest and largest museum education professional organizations in the country providing Southern California museum educators with professional development, theoretical discourse, practical training, and networking for over 30 years.

Mission

We are an inclusive alliance of critically aware museum educators who cultivate and build strategic relationships rooted in sharing resources and encouraging experimentation that empowers the field.

Vision & Values

MESC envisions a community of empowered museum educators who will advance the field.

TRANSPARENCY
Through transparent processes and open communication, we share organizational authority among empowered museum educators.

COMMUNITY
Our community is cultivated through collective empathy, vulnerability, and integrity.

INCLUSIVITY
We invite, celebrate, and respect diverse voices and strive for honest, reflective, and productive dialogue.

SOLIDARITY
Our solidarity is what gives us the credibility and power to advocate for ourselves and others.

Our 24-25 Board

Rachel Kilroy

President

Rachel (she/her) is an accomplished arts education leader with over 10 years of experience in strategic planning, team supervision, and community engagement. She has expertise in data-driven analysis, marketing, and budget management, with a proven ability to drive program growth, streamline operations, and cultivate partnerships.

Esperanza Sanchez

Vice President + DEAI

Esperanza (she/her) is a curator, historian, and educator. She is an Associate Curator at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. She held archival, curatorial, and educational positions at the Autry Museum of the American West and the Museum of Latin American Art. Esperanza holds a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts in History from California State University, Northridge.

Delaina Engberg

At-Large

Delaina (she/her) has a diverse background in museum education, gallery curation, and community arts initiatives. Through collaborative efforts with fellow educators at the Orange County Museum of Art, she has sought to create an environment that fosters curiosity and exploration, enriching the visitor experience and deepening audiences engagement with Modern and Contemporary art.

Lonnie Goodwin

Digital

Lonnie (she/her) has worked as a Museum Educator at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for the past several years, as well as previously for several years at CAAM. Her work has included developing and teaching in-person and virtual object-centered lessons and workshops, writing online educational materials, as well as creating materials to train new educators.

Sarah Harty

Web

Sarah (she/they) is a Museum Professional with a passion for fostering curiosity and learning. Currently, as the Manager of Visitor Experience at the Southern California Railway Museum, she has streamlined the membership program, enhanced development, and organizes various events attracting over 100,000 visitors annually.

Jeniffer Perales-Garcia

Community Engagement

Jeniffer Perales Garcia (she/her/ella) is a bilingual museum educator. She has worked at museums in Los Angeles and Texas. As a first-generation English-learner and previously DACA-mented, her work strives to create a more accessible and welcoming museum space for all.

Rachel Regalado

Secretary

Rachel (she/her) is the Assistant Educator at the Hammer Museum passionate about creating accessible arts education programming. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she is inspired by hidden and untold stories within her community. For this reason, she consistently works towards uplifting and centering their voices within the institution.

Mariam Tabatabaee

Advancement

Mariam (she/they) Associate Educator at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, develops programs that engage adults with visual storytelling. An advocate for accessibility, Mariam has developed tours for visitors who are blind or have partial vision at museums such as the Guggenheim, Craft Contemporary, and NHM Utah.

Miriam Valle-Mancilla

Membership Engagement

Miriam (she/her) serves as the Curator of Education for the city of Ontario at the Ontario Museum of History & Art. In this public service role, she leads efforts to engage the diverse community through creative interpretation of local history and artistic practices.

Billie Rae Vinson

Treasurer

Billie (she/her) is the Director of School and Family Programs at Craft Contemporary where she develops programs for schools, teens and families. She has also worked with LACMA, P.S. ARTS, and LAMusArt, to provide creative experiences for a wide range of audiences.

2023-2024 Board