STAFF
Juliette Leon Bartsch
Executive Director
Juliette Leon Bartsch
Executive Director
Juliette León Bartsch is the Executive Director of the Museum of Boulder. For more than 25 years in Boulder, she has brought people together through arts, culture, education, and the stories that shape a community.
Before becoming Executive Director, Juliette served as the Museum’s Director of Development and Marketing, building support for its exhibitions, educational programs, and events. She previously oversaw cultural programming at the Boulder Public Library, including the Library Concert Series and exhibitions in the Canyon Gallery. At the Boulder Library Foundation, she helped raise funds for library programs and the new North Boulder branch.
Juliette has also led educational programs at the Dairy Arts Center, collaborated with the City of Boulder’s Parks & Recreation, Open Space, and Arts + Culture teams, and supported programming for the Jaipur Literature Festival. Earlier in her career, she taught overseas and worked in music and television in New York City.
Juliette believes that understanding a place’s history helps people connect with it—and with one another. She is dedicated to making the Museum a welcoming space where Boulder’s many stories come to life and spark curiosity about its future.
Emily Zinn
Deputy Director for Community Engagement
Emily Zinn
Deputy Director for Community Engagement
Emily Zinn has followed an enthusiasm for sensory and immersive free-choice learning environments across continents to work in museums, galleries, zoos, and replica ships. She has taken on diverse projects at the Museum of Boulder to bring this world-class institution to life. Prior to working in this Museum, she created interactive exhibits at the Longmont Museum and Cultural Center, an Australian replica ship at port in Brisbane, Australia, a zoo for native Australian animals in Daintree, Australia, and an art gallery in Colorado Springs. Emily has spent over three years abroad and speaks Italian. She was born and raised in Boulder and loves empowering women of all ages to find strength in outdoor lifestyles. She co-runs a women’s cycling team, has coached young cyclists who went on to compete in the World Championships, and has captained her raft, “Priscilla,” down the Grand Canyon twice. Emily's priorities center around our Strategic Goal #3, “Transforming the Museum into a Vital Community Resource.” In that capacity Emily oversaw the community curation of the award-winning 2021 Voces Vivas exhibit, and wrote and facilitated the delivery of the grant for Proclaiming Colorado's Black History. She also led teams for The Boulder Experience, the Playzeum, and the Google Garage. She directs school and youth programming. One of Emily’s favorite factoids about Boulder: Six marriage licenses were issued to same-sex couples here in Boulder in 1975, and while the response in the ‘70s was far from resoundingly supportive, we have a proud legacy to build upon as we create a community centered in social justice. emily@museumofboulder.org Contact Emily to schedule school field trips.
Savannah Snody
Communications Coordinator
Savannah Snody
Communications Coordinator
Savannah is the Communications Coordinator at the Museum of Boulder, where she leads communications and marketing efforts across the organization, including media relations, digital marketing, promotional campaigns, social media, email communications, and the Museum’s weekly newsletter. Her work spans exhibitions, public programs, special events, and major fundraising initiatives, and she collaborates closely across departments on development, membership, sponsorship, community partnerships, and audience engagement.
Passionate about making art and history accessible through community collaboration, Savannah has helped organize and support numerous exhibitions and creative projects at the Museum of Boulder, including Drawing Parallels and Voces Vivas. She has also developed community-focused art exhibitions in partnership with local organizations, including the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and Friends of the National Center, bringing together artists, community partners, and cultural institutions to create opportunities for local artists and connect their work with broader Boulder audiences.
Born and raised in Boulder, Savannah attended The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, where she studied history with an emphasis in women’s history. Her commitment to Boulder’s cultural and historic landscape extends beyond her professional work. She previously served as Co-President of the Board of Historic Boulder, a nonprofit historic preservation organization, and has volunteered with the Carnegie Library for Local History and contributed to local history and community projects throughout Boulder.
In her free time, Savannah enjoys hiking with her pup, treasure hunting at antique markets, exploring art and history, and traveling to new places.
Contact Savannah for all marketing and communications inquiries, including media and press requests.
Elizabeth Nosek
Curator
Elizabeth Nosek
Curator
Elizabeth Nosek has been exploring history and culture throughout her career. through the countless objects left behind by the people who lived it. Using the stories found in museum collections and working closely with community members, she has engaged visitors through dynamic exhibits and programs. Her love of museums and their use of informal education to build bridges between people has taken her on adventures from Delaware to Hawai`i spending most of her time here in Colorado. After getting an undergraduate degree in cultural anthropology at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and her masters in history museum studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program (SUNY system), Elizabeth has worked for local historical societies, natural history museums, the National Park Service, living history museums, children’s museums, as well as traditional history and art museums to preserve and care for these very unique collections being held in the public’s trust.
Elizabeth loves exploring museums and acts as a peer reviewer for the American Alliance of Museums. Her work experiences have enabled her to author several professional articles, a book on Interpretive Master Planning, and a chapter for AASLH’s upcoming book, An Accessible Past: Making Historic Sites Accessible.
While a committed museum nerd, Elizabeth also enjoys exploring food history, decorative arts, all things Disney, choral music, exploring Colorado, meeting new friends, and making a difference.
Beverly Silva
Executive Assistant
Beverly Silva
Executive Assistant
Beverly has been involved with the Museum for various projects dating back to 2008, including the Boulder History Museum’s Boulder Conversations with Extraordinary People, the Boulder Sesquicentennial Celebration, and the planning and execution of the Museum of Boulder’s 75th Anniversary Gala in 2019. Beverly’s devotion for supporting the economic vitality of Downtown Boulder is based on more than three decades of experience in hospitality, sales, and marketing for the historic Hotel Boulderado, the Boulder International Film Festival, the Downtown Boulder Partnership, and The Bradley Boulder Inn. Her passion for promoting the vibrancy of Boulder and for preserving the stories of Boulder’s history make her a natural fit for assisting the Museum with community outreach to expand its base of corporate sponsors, individual donors, family memberships, and admission from tourists and locals alike. Beverly is passionate about Boulder’s history and the ever-growing list of innovative ideas and creations that stem from our community of brilliant minds. beverly@museumofboulder.org
Addie Tomsyck
Manager of Guest Services
Addie Tomsyck
Manager of Guest Services
Addie Tomsyck joined the Museum of Boulder as a volunteer docent and quickly moved onto the Guest Services team. As the Coordinator of Guest Services, she manages the front desk staff, helps schedule community exhibits in the Lodge, and manages the volunteer program here at the Museum of Boulder. Addie was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado. Her passion for Museum work stems from her time spent at the University of Colorado, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classics and a Minor in Art History and Museum Studies. Addie also has a passion for music and works as an usher at Macky Auditorium and Gurcin Hall at CU. Her other passions include traveling, Italian food and dogs. Addie especially loves the trails Boulder has to offer. She enjoys hiking all around the Boulder area with her friends and family. addie@museumofboulder.org Contact Addie with questions about the Lodge Gallery, group tours and volunteering opportunities.
Ron Harlow
Events Manager
Ron Harlow
Events Manager
As the Events Manager at the Museum of Boulder, Ron oversees all private and public events hosted at the museum. From coordinating rentals and managing logistics to curating unique experiences for our guests, Ron ensures that each event reflects the museum’s mission and contributes to the vibrant cultural landscape of Boulder.
With a strong background in the local hospitality industry and years of experience in event management, Ron brings a deep understanding of what it takes to execute successful gatherings. His expertise spans everything from corporate functions and weddings to community celebrations, allowing Ron to create seamless and memorable experiences for all who visit the museum.
Originally from Southern California, Ron moved to Boulder in 2017 with his partner, who attended CU Boulder for law school and is now a practicing attorney in the area. Ron and his partner have since made Boulder their home and appreciate the city’s strong sense of community and cultural offerings. In their free time, they enjoy exploring local events and spending time with their two cats.
- Email:ron@museumofboulder.org
Christine Zarett
Guest Services Team Member
Christine Zarett
Guest Services Team Member
Christine Zarett is a librarian / archivist / researcher / editor.
Before retiring and moving from New York City to Boulder in 2025, Christine was Curator for the Black Heritage Reference Collection at the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center part of the Queens Public Library. She continued her work for the library after moving to Boulder as an independent librarian / archivist creating metadata of VHS digitized videos of Langston Hughes Library programs and events and Black film not available on video or DVD for the Queens Public Library's catalog.
Working at the Museum of Boulder is a continuation of Christine's interest in the preservation of history and lifelong learning as a librarian / archivist.
Nicole Schoenberg
Guest Services Team Member
Nicole Schoenberg
Guest Services Team Member
Nicole Schoenberg is the friendly face you see first greeting you at the museum. Nicole lives here in Boulder with her girlfriend and her many plants. She enjoys hiking, biking, and writing. and art. She was one of the initial volunteers during the opening of the broadway location assisting in community engagement in the Google Garage and learning under deputy director of engagement Emily Zinn, she left to receive her BA in history with a focus on US politics from Pitzer college in Claremont California before coming back to work with Addie and Christine in museum guest services, as well as assist in exhibit research. Nicole brings her experience in youth education along with her experience in community outreach, historical analysis and engagement in multiple feilds, including women's health and queer rights.
Nicole's Fun Fact!
Did you know that an adult Colorado bison eats around 3% of its 1000 pound body weight, that means that a herd of 100 bison consumes nearly 3000 pounds of grass daily! Talk about getting in your daily veggies!
PROJECT PARTNERS | CONTRACTORS | INTERNS
Carol Banks
Carol Banks Design, LLC.
Carol Banks
Carol Banks Design, LLC.
Carol Banks is a master at telling a brand’s story through clean, modern design. Her design experience spans a variety of industries – fitness, food and beverage, science, technology and nonprofit. Before returning to her home in Colorado, Carol spent 18 years in San Francisco where she honed her design skills doing everything from projects for a small studio to in-house design for Oracle. By working across sectors Carol has become an excellent listener and is able to translate her clients’ visions easily. She is constantly updating and refining her print and digital design skills in order to give her clients the custom design results they love.
Cori Chavez
Cori Chavez, LLC.
Cori Chavez
Cori Chavez, LLC.
Cori Chavez helps entrepreneurs build websites and their businesses. Cori provides WordPress websites, marketing direction and a sense of empowerment for clients by educating them in the intimidating areas of website development, digital media and marketing. Cori has an MFA in Filmmaking and Media Arts from the University of Colorado. She tutored students in computer software and video production equipment. She found great joy in being a calming influence while helping students who felt technologically disadvantaged. Cori’s community involvement includes work with women in technology and education. In 2010 she organized Startup Women, a Boulder/Denver group of over 750 female entrepreneurs who met once a month to share experiences and learn new skills. She was a member of the Centennial Middle School PTO, served on the Board of Trustees for ROVC (Reach Out Crest View) at Crest View Elementary and served on the Board of Cool Girls Science and Art Club. She was also a long-time advisory committee member of the legendary Teen Parent Program at Boulder Valley Schools.
Glenda S. Robinson
Oral History Coordinator
Glenda S. Robinson
Oral History Coordinator
Ms. Glenda S. Robinson is a long-time resident of Longmont, Colorado. In the early 1980s, she founded an award-winning Facilities Maintenance Company.
Ms. Robinson is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach with a B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice. She is also a graduate of Leadership America.
At the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Ms. Robinson was an impressionable, young Junior at Memphis State University located in Memphis, Tennessee. While there, she became an active participant in the Movement led by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. just prior to his assassination in 1968. That involvement set her on a course to keep the King Dream Alive. A picture of that involvement rests at the Smithsonian African American Museum of History and Culture, the National Civil Rights Museum, the Withers Museum and Gallery, and the Stax Records Museum of Memphis. She has worked tirelessly to make a difference through Special Events, Workshops, Group Meetings, Conferences, Lectures, Storytelling, and the like. All with the desire to simply make a difference.
Ms. Robinson’s family relocated in 1980 from California to Colorado with IBM. Continuing her heartfelt concern and sense of social responsibility, Ms. Robinson became actively involved in community service. Her work and efforts to advance change continue. Listed below are a few highlights:
Department of Commerce-MEED Week Award (Local and Regional) Winner & National Nominee
Former Member, Longmont Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors for
Boulder Chamber of Commerce
Workforce Boulder County
Boulder County Family Self-Sufficiency Program
Mayor’s Community POSITIVE IMPACT AWARD, City of Longmont
The City of Longmont, Colorado along with Silver Creek High School’s Leadership Academy Community Service Award.
The Mayor and City Council of the City of Longmont, CO issued a proclamation celebrating Mrs. Robinson as the Founder of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s week-long celebration that acknowledges her work and commitment to maintaining the Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Her work continues at the elementary, middle, high school, community college, and university levels, as she continues to tell stories that challenge the human spirit and encourage the heart. She truly believes that we must use our differences to make a difference.
Ms. Robinson is an ordained minister and mentor to many. She is an Associate Minister at Historic Second Baptist Church, Boulder. She served as a Chaplain Intern at Boulder Community Hospital, finding great satisfaction in serving the staff and patients. She is the proud mother of a daughter, Kendra, and a son, Glenn, and the grandmother of four. Her proudest moments of late are the most recent twin additions of London and Lincoln Robinson. Her heart’s desire and continued work is to build people as we create “the beloved community.”
Jehnie Burns
Co-Project Director and Lead Curator
Jehnie Burns
Co-Project Director and Lead Curator
Jehnie Burns is the Guest Curator of the 2027 exhibit Boulder Mixtape Local, Live, and Loud, 1955-2005. Born and raised in Boulder, her first concert was John Denver at Red Rocks in 1980. She graduated from Boulder High School, earned a bachelor’s degree from Tulane University and a PhD in Modern European History from the University of Virginia. Jehnie taught history and cultural studies at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA for seventeen years before returning to Boulder in 2023. She published the academic book Mixtape Nostalgia: Culture, Memory, and Representation which analyzes the history of the mixtape as a fundamental aspect of the music industry and discusses the continued appeal of the mixtape in mainstream pop culture. She has spoken at various academic conferences about her work on youth culture and material music culture. Since returning to Boulder, Jehnie volunteers with the Carnegie Library Oral History program, as a member of the BVSD Title IX Committee, and with RMEQ as a moderator for their teen book group. She substitute teaches for Boulder Valley Schools and attends as many local music concerts and festivals as she can. Her favorite genre of music and artist changes depending on the day.
Binisha Shrestha
Co-Project Director and Lead Curator
Binisha Shrestha
Co-Project Director and Lead Curator
Born and raised in Nepal with a background in film and communications, She’s always been a storyteller driven by a need to understand and influence the audience. She is a relentless problem solver with unquenchable curiosity who can't help but analyze and try to improve everything she sees . She's goal- oriented, self-driven, hard working and loves talking to people. Experienced Owner with a demonstrated history of working in the arts and crafts industry. Skilled in English, Adobe Photoshop, Calligraphy, Final Cut Pro, and Social Media. Strong business development professional with a Certificate focused in Graphic Design from Arapahoe Community College.
JP Stevens
Lead Docent
JP Stevens
Lead Docent
JP Stevens arrived in Boulder in 1975 with his future wife, Cynthia, whom he met while attending college in Spokane, Washington. Cynthia is a graduate of Boulder’s Fairview High School.
JP’s roots in Boulder County run deep. His grandfather was born in a farmhouse in Hygiene, Colorado, in 1896, and his great-great-grandparents were among the Church of the Brethren families who homesteaded at Pella Crossing after arriving in the early 1870s. Both are buried in the Hygiene Cemetery.
The son of a Presbyterian minister, JP spent his childhood in a series of small towns throughout the western United States, where his father served local congregations. JP built a successful career in the technology industry, beginning with Boulder-based NBI, Inc. (“Nothing But Initials”). He later held positions at Compaq Computer and Microsoft before retiring in 2018.
JP and Cynthia have called the same Boulder home their own for more than forty-five years. A lifelong student of history, JP is grateful to live in a community with such a rich heritage and among residents dedicated to preserving and sharing Boulder’s history for future generations
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEMBERS
Bob Yates
CHAIR
Bob Yates
CHAIR
Bob has been affiliated with the Boulder Historical Society since 2009. He served two three-year terms on the board (2009-2015) of what was then called the Boulder History Museum, including four years as the board chair. Bob led the acquisition of the Masonic Lodge building in 2013 and the subsequent capital campaign, resulting in the opening of the Museum of Boulder in 2019.
After Bob was term-limited on the Museum board, Bob was elected to the Boulder City
Council, serving two four-year terms (2015-23), including a term as Mayor Pro Tem. Upon retiring from city council, Bob served as the Museum's interim executive director from December 2023 until Christopher Taylor joined the organization as permanent ED in June 2024. Since then, Bob has served as a member of the Museum's Development Committee,
founding the 1944 Society.
In addition to his long history with the Museum, Bob brings extensive experience as a community nonprofit leader and fundraiser. His service to the community includes leadership positions with Boulder Community Health, All Roads Homeless
Shelter, Downtown Boulder Partnership, Boulder County Farmers Market, CU Center for Leadership, Boulder Chamber, Wild Bear Nature Center, Visit Boulder, Rocky Mountain Equality, Chautauqua, Dairy Arts Center, and Boulder Parks & Recreation.
His fundraising experience has ranged from leading the capital campaign to build the new Museum of Boulder to the renovation of the Dairy Arts Center. Bob is currently leading the capital campaigns for construction of the new Wild Bear Nature Center in Nederland and the creation of a new downtown Boulder market hall for the Farmers Market. He leads the planning and fundraising for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Pearl Street Mall in 2027.
A retired lawyer and senior executive of a Fortune 500 company, Bob has served as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Colorado and the University of Denver. He reads to kindergartners through the YWCA Reading to End Racism program.
Bob loves to write. Since 2016, he has published a monthly newsletter, The Boulder Bulletin, which explains local government and celebrates community achievements. He is a regular contributor to Boulder Reporting Lab. Bob recently finished writing his first book, a
historical fiction, The Assassin's Girlfriend, and is currently writing his second book, At the Sign of the Phoenix, on the early history of Brooklyn. Bob and his wife of 42 years, Katy, live in North Boulder and have an apartment in Brooklyn, near their grown sons, John and Will.
Cait McQuade
VICE CHAIR
Cait McQuade
VICE CHAIR
Cait McQuade is a freelance interpretive planner and exhibition developer and has lived in Boulder since 2012. She teaches in the Museum and Field Studies graduate program at CU Boulder. Following a museum career epiphany at a National Park Service visitor center in high school, she studied art history at Yale and American material culture at the University of Delaware. Cait worked for the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis and the National Park Service at its national media service center. As an independent contractor she has served clients such as the Mark Twain Museum in Hannibal MO, the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, and Wyoming State Parks. Through her teaching, Cait has developed a broader understanding of museums' roles in society and an appreciation for the many skills and perspectives that contribute to a successful institution.
Robert Heilbronner
TREASURER
Robert Heilbronner
TREASURER
Robert Heilbronner is a career investment banker (Deutsche Bank, UBS, and since 2008 Integris Partners, a middle-market firm he co-founded). He has represented clients in a wide range of industries, and although not a CPA, is experienced in financial statement analysis and projections as well as banking arrangements. In addition, he is a continuing student of history, having bailed out of a PhD program in Russian History but never having lost interest in the topic. For example, he lectures on history and current-events topics in the Boulder County area for Active Minds, an organization that arranges content series in retirement communities. Both his children are or were History majors in college, and his wife Sarah incorporates a significant amount of historical context in her teaching of US literature at Silver Creek High School, so it’s something of a family affair. He has lived in Boulder since 2002, and is currently on the Board of the Devil’s Thumb Homeowners’ Association.
Celanie Pinnell
SECRETARY
Celanie Pinnell
SECRETARY
Celanie Pinnell is an experienced marketing and public relations professional in the healthcare industry. Over the course of her career, Celanie has developed and overseen successful omnichannel communications programs for clients in natural products, health care, home design, retail and wellness.
Matt Dubofsky
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
Matt Dubofsky
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
Matt Dubofsky is a true Boulderite, growing up here, moving through BVSD schools and Boulder’s little league fields as a player and a coach, and returning to raise his family. Matt is an honored graduate of Harvard Law School and Brown University. In his legal practice, Matt represents emerging companies and also has deep experience with capital market transactions, representation of public companies and mergers and acquisitions across a variety of industries. Matt and his family have been long time supporters of the Museum of Boulder, and his passion and love for Boulder lead him to the very place that tells and preserves its stories.
Christine Basler
Christine Basler is a wealth manager who partners with entrepreneurial families, single-family offices and foundations, providing tailored investment solutions and comprehensive services designed around each client’s unique needs. She partners with founders on pre- and post-transaction planning and delivers integrated financial strategies across asset allocation, portfolio implementation, concentrated positions, and wealth preservation and transfer planning.
She brings a decade of experience in the multifamily office space and holds a Master of Science in Finance from Washington University.
Earlier in her career, Christine worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers as a Deals Associate, where she conducted valuation analyses and supported strategic valuation advisory engagements.
Christine enjoys spending time with her husband and two young boys, exploring the outdoors, and engaging with her community.
Jane Brautigam
Jane Brautigam served as the city manager of Boulder, Colorado from 2008 – 2020, leading an organization of 1500 employees focused on excellence in service delivery. As city manager, Jane was responsible for the city’s efforts in advancing sustainability and resilience, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring the financial stability of the city’s general fund and its capital improvements program. Importantly, Jane and her team addressed concerns with policing in Boulder, establishing a plan for improved community relations and leading to an organization wide effort to focus on racial equity in the community. In prior years, Jane served as the city manager for Dublin, OH and Loveland CO; city attorney for Loveland, CO and Greenwood Village, CO and assistant county attorney in Boulder County, CO.
Jane served as a regional vice president representing the Mountain Plains region on the Executive Board of the International City Management Association (2013-2016) and as ICMA President (2019-2020).
Since retiring in 2020, Jane continues to serve as a senior advisor for the Colorado City County Management Association; as a board member and president (2024) of Resource Central, a non-profit focused on practical conservation measures; and as a board member of Frasier Living.
Jane received her J.D. degree, cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and her B. A., summa cum laude ,from Allegheny College.
Velveta Golightly-Howell
Velveta Golightly-Howell, a dedicated servant leader and racial justice advocate, is the founder, Board Chair, and CEO of Sister-to-Sister: International Network of African American Women, Inc., a Colorado-incorporated, tax-exempt public charity. Licensed to practice law in Colorado, New York, and before the U.S. Supreme Court, she has spent four decades advancing equity and access to equal opportunities on behalf of marginalized communities. She is a former federal executive and a criminal, labor, employment, and Civil Rights attorney. Ms. Golightly-Howell is driven and committed to addressing racial and social injustice to achieve positive societal change.
Judy Heeter
After decades of winter and summer family trips from Kansas City, it’s no coincidence that Judy’s three children each migrated to Colorado, where Judy and her husband, Jim, soon followed, noting that, “Our Colorado strategy worked out well!” In 2012, purchase of their home in the hills south of Boulder fulfilled Judy’s lifelong dream to live in the mountains and enjoy all that the Boulder community has to offer. As a “recovering lawyer” whose career included general counsel responsibilities for Hallmark Cards, Inc., and a chief executive role with the global marketing and licensing program of the Major League Baseball Players Association, Judy transitioned to a career as a consultant in business strategy, marketing, licensing and corporate governance. With a strong commitment to community outreach and excellence in corporate governance, she is an experienced director of public companies and has served important leadership roles in a wide variety of community organizations. She is tremendously grateful for the awards she has received for community service and for the retirement opportunity to laugh with six grandchildren, hike with her two Doodles and ride her horse in the Colorado foothills.
Lauri McNown
Teaching Professor Emerita, University of Colorado, Boulder.
Third generation native Coloradan Lauri McNown first moved to Boulder as an undergraduate. Eventually she earned a Ph.D. in Political Science and taught in that Department and the Honors Program for many years. Her courses focused on the American Presidency and current political issues. She and her husband, retired Professor of Economics, took advantage of the academic lifestyle and lived and taught in Kathmandu, Beijing, Sydney, Hanoi, and Penang, Malaysia where she had a Fulbright Award. They also taught on Semester at Sea on three voyages. After retirement she served as a member and Board President of the Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company (BETC) for six years.
Jennifer Robins
Jenny Robins is a longtime Boulder community leader, small business owner, and public servant. She currently serves as Chair of the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, a board member of the Play Boulder Foundation, co-chair of the Boulder Chamber Community Affairs Council, and a mentor through the CU Leadership Program. A working parent raising two teenage daughters in Gunbarrel with her husband, Chris, she brings both professional expertise and personal perspective to issues affecting Boulder families and neighborhoods. Robins has more than 25 years of experience in telecommunications and commercial production and co-owns a small business in downtown Boulder. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a Pre-Law minor from DePaul University and is deeply committed to preserving Boulder’s unique character while supporting a vibrant, inclusive, and economically resilient community.
Robins’ commitment to civic engagement and community service spans both Colorado and her previous work in Chicago, where she was a founding member of Women in Film Chicago and served as Associate Board Co-Chair of the Chicago International Film Festival. In Boulder, she has volunteered extensively with organizations including Boulder Valley Humane Society, Attention Homes, A Precious Child, Share-A-Gift, and the Boulder County Foster Program, and has served as a Girl Scout troop leader focused on community and environmental stewardship. She also brings experience serving on HOA boards overseeing budgets and major contracts, along with professional experience navigating land use, zoning, and historic preservation processes. Robins is honored to continue contributing her experience and community commitment in service to Boulder’s cultural institutions and civic life.
Cynthia Schmidt
Cynthia (Cyn) Schmidt moved decades ago from the east coast to Colorado to pursue sunshine, mountains, snow, and a fourth and fifth grades teaching job. Now retired, her most recent work was as Director of Government Affairs for the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and director of Climate Voices, a joint project of the United Nations Foundation and UCAR. Along the way, she developed educational materials for the Colorado Historical Society (now History Colorado) and traveled the state initiating proposals for the Colorado Humanities Program. She has a B.A. in English Literature from Wells College, an M.A. in Education from Columbia Teachers College, and an M.A. in Creative Writing from CU Boulder. Her community service includes chairing the boards of the Museum of Boulder, the Colorado Chautauqua Association, CO-Labs, Inc., and the Boulder Chamber. Cyn is no longer terribly enthusiastic about snow, but loves travel and dreaming that someday she’ll really learn how to speak French and play drums.
Brian Spear
Brian Spear is a retired molecular biologist and biotechnologist living in Boulder. Brian received his A.B. from Amherst College and a Ph.D. from Yale. He and his wife, Kathleen, moved to Boulder in 1973 where he did post-doctoral research at CU before moving to Chicago for a faculty position at Northwestern University. Brian then moved to Abbott Laboratories in 1982 to start up the company’s genetic engineering group. In his 28 years at Abbott, he held numerous research, development, and strategy positions, including director of R&D for agricultural products, director of diagnostic technology acquisition, and director of genomic technologies. During that time, Brian and Kathy maintained close relations with Boulder and its people, and after toggling between Chicago and Boulder for eight years, moved here full time in 2016. They have been very involved members and supporters of the Museum since 2010. Brian is an avid traveler and fly fisherman.
Stuart Takeuchi
CU Vice President for Administration, emeritus.
Stu and Kay lived in Boulder for 30 years. Stu was at CU-Boulder from 1973-1994, last serving as Vice Chancellor for Administration, then moved to the CU System Office as VP for Administration, retiring in 2000. He served on the boards of the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, Boulder Technology Incubator, Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools, Avista Hospital, and the Association for University Related Research Parks.
Stu has degrees from Occidental College (BA), Cornell University (MPA), and CU-Boulder (PhD).
Stu and Kay have two sons, both graduates of Boulder High and CU-Boulder, and two granddaughters. They have lived in Erie since 2003.