New Education Department Team at EPMA: Laura Zamarripa, Elisabeth Sommer, Brittny Bevel, Erica Saldaña
The El Paso Museum of Art has announced four new hires in its busy education department, which reaches an average of over 17,000 visitors every year, through lectures, family days, classes, workshops, guided tours, and public events.
Laura Zamarripa, a native El Pasoan, is EPMA’s new “Community Engagement Manager”, and head of the education department. Zamarripa returned to her hometown in 2009 after working in arts and cultural organizations in Austin, Dallas and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Laura received a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from The University of Texas at Austin, and a Master of Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University.
Elisabeth Sommer, Ph.D. described by the museum as “a museum, history, and art geek” is EPMA’s new Education Curator; she will supervise tours, public education events, and the volunteer docent program. Her first museum job was as a costumed interpreter at the restored town of Old Salem in North Carolina.
Brittny Bevel will be Museum School Coordinator, managing the studio art classes and a grant-funded program, Neighborhood Kids. With a recent MA in Art and Design Education from the Rhode Island School of Design, Bevel was an intern for two years at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.
Erica Saldaña, another El Pasoan, will be the museums full-time Education Assistant. Her other interests include her family, football, cheerleading and baking.
Together, they have a lot to do: EPMA offers over 70 studio art camps and classes throughout the year.
