Born in San Diego and raised in the Imperial Valley by her grandparents, Angelina has called Ocotillo home since she was seven years old. She graduated from Grossmont College with an AA in Social & Behavioral Sciences in 2014 and attended SUSU- IVC Campus. Angelina has been on and off with IVDM since 2014, and has taken multiple roles such as: Education Specialist, Education Coordinator & Manager, and Social Media Content Manager. She has helped oversee many education projects and programs. She really enjoys working for the Museum and the work that IVDM does. As she transitions into her new role she is excited about the continued work and projects taking place at IVDM.

With a bachelor’s in art education and a master’s in art history and visual culture, Ryan has come from Madison, GA to work as a Curator for Imperial Valley Desert Museum, focusing on bringing world-class exhibits and archiving museum objects and materials to the Valley. Before working with IVDM, Ryan worked with the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art (STMA) as a Curatorial Assistant.

While working at STMA, Ryan has had the opportunity to work within the museum’s archives, which hold over 700 works in its permanent collection, as well as 6000+ works through the Steffen Thomas Family Collection. He has also had several opportunities to curate several exhibitions at STMA. Digital catalogs, designed by Ryan for these exhibitions, can be found on the STMA website.

As IVDM's Head Curator, Ryan looks to engage the Imperial Valley community with wildlife and cultures of the desert. Working as a liaison between IVDM and indigenous communities in San Diego and Imperial Counties, Ryan looks to engage with contemporary indigenous artists and tribal members to develop new exhibits and displays for communities to see here in the valley.

Since Graduating from Southwest High School and attending Imperial Valley College ultimately working his way to UCLA and always maintaining a deep passion for history throughout his academic career. Which ultimately pushed him to pursue graduate study in history specializing in the medieval field. David's dream is to ultimately obtain a Ph.D. in medieval studies and become a professor. 

Although coming from a medieval history background. David always saw the importance in history education, leading him to IVDM. David is looking forward to working with the staff in creating fun and engaging activities to share the Imperial Valley's history with the community.

Raul, a lifelong Imperial Valley resident, developed a deep interest in history, leading him to pursue a history degree at UC Riverside. He's passionate about the museum but has long-term plans to obtain a teaching credential at San Diego State University - Imperial Valley Campus to teach high school history and apply the knowledge he gains from IVDM. Working at IVDM has exposed him to a hidden part of local history, indigenous history, which is often overlooked in Imperial Valley history. He is grateful for IVDM and hopes to contribute to the museum's growth and success.

Sebastian joined the Imperial Valley Desert Museum through a paid internship program in partnership with Options for All, which supports individuals with developmental disabilities in gaining professional skills in inclusive work environments. A 2020 Calexico High School graduate, Sebastian is passionate about history, especially military and plans to pursue a degree in the field. He enjoys welcoming visitors, sharing stories from the past, and caring for Dottie, the museum’s rescued Sonoran Desert Tortoise. Sebastian describes his experience at IVDM as “a beautiful experience, and everyone has been amazing.”