David Arevalo holds a Bachelor of Arts in History with a concentration in Medieval Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an MLitt in Medieval Studies. Originally from the Imperial Valley, his academic training reflects a strong commitment to historical scholarship and to making research meaningful and accessible beyond the university setting. Through conference participation and research he has developed an approach that brings scholarly inquiry into conversation with community learning.

As Director of the Imperial Valley Desert Museum, David leads the museum's mission, programs, and community engagement efforts while also advancing its educational programming. He applies his research background to the creation of accessible learning experiences that connect the public with the history, culture, and landscapes of the Imperial Valley and surrounding borderlands. Recognizing the museum's distinct role in this region, he is committed to developing programs that are not only informative, but also grounded in place and responsive to the community the museum serves.

Through field trips, outreach initiatives, public programs, and interpretive work, David seeks to strengthen the museum's role as a center for learning and connection. His work emphasizes the value of local history and the importance of the borderlands as a lived and meaningful space. By bringing scholarship, education, and community engagement into closer conversation, he aims to broaden access to meaningful experiences and encourage engagement with history, culture, and interpretation.

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.

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.”

Jacob joined the Imperial Valley Desert Museum through a paid internship program in partnership with Options for All, an organization that supports individuals with developmental disabilities in gaining professional skills in inclusive work environments. Born in Los Angeles and a 2021 high school graduate from Montebello, Jacob moved to the Imperial Valley a few years ago. Although the museum does not focus specifically on paleontology; Jacob enjoys sharing his passion by occasionally bringing in fossils and prehistoric figures from his personal collection and talking about the ancient life that once existed in the Imperial Valley millions of years ago. His goal is to one day become a paleontologist and inspire others by sharing the wonders of paleontology with curious minds.