She/Her/Hers, Black American, Washington DC

Britt Oates is a passion-driven anthropologist, museum professional, and creative/forward thinker with a decade of interdisciplinary experience inspiring and facilitating informal cultural and science education and engagement. Britt holds degrees in general anthropology with a focus on socio-cultural anthropology and archaeology and has been incorporating her anthropological interests in the museum sector with experience in exhibit development, museum programming, visitor services, and operations, all while juggling the responsibilities of being a single mother. In the wake of the 2020 Black Lives Matter and social justice movements Britt grew motivated to focus her endeavors on activist anthropology and exhibit development through a DEIA lens.

She/Her/Hers, Mixed race: Black and White, Reading, PA

Heather Hope actively challenges what a museum can and should be in the 21st century, what roles they play in communities, and what they can mean to individuals. Leveraging her educational background in art history, museum studies, and the law, today she is an instructor in undergraduate and graduate arts administration and museum studies programs, teaching in the areas of ethical and legal issues in the arts, civic engagement, and related areas. Her past work in museums has ranged from rights management and collections management to museum education and administration for institutions across sizes and disciplines. In Agate Creatives, Heather Hope brings her ethical and legal knowledge, along with her dedication to anti-racism, equity, and justice, to assist in a variety of projects across the organization’s work.

She/They, Mixed: Malaysian Chinese and White, Dallas, TX

Kathren recently finished their Master's Degree in Museum Management with a focus in science centers and Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) and a certificate in nonprofit management from George Washington University. Kathren spent several years in Chicago at the beginning of their museum career and was very active in the LGBTQ+ community helping to create the still existing LGBTQ+ museum people organization, CAMPP.

She/Her/Hers, Afro-Indigenous Latina of Panamanian Descent , Queens, NY

Marlena holds degrees in Art History, Cultural Anthropology as well as History of Decorative Arts and Design. She had aspirations into entering the museum field within her speciality of 17th & 8th century Baroque Design, but ended up in communications and digital marketing instead where she has gained over 10+ years of experience. She lends these skills to Agate Creatives as she believes the organization's mission is of great significance, not only within the museum-field but in bringing about much needed social change through education and understanding.

She/Her/Hers, Mixed race: Latina/x (Venezuelan) and white, Chattanooga, TN

Sarah is from Asheville, North Carolina and moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee in 2018 by way of Seattle, Washington. Sarah has worked in museums and nonprofits for over a decade, with a focus on multicultural learning and authentic storytelling. She has Masters of Museology from University of Washington and Bachelors in Women Studies with emphasis in art. As biracial (Latina/x + white), white presenting woman, living in the south with Appalachian heritage, she strives to always consider positionality and explore identity. Sarah loves to read, write, travel with her partner, Alex, garden and have projects around the house with their three-legged dog, Bear. She is currently the Annual Giving Manager at Seattle Parks Foundation.

She/Her/Hers, Black/African American, Denver, CO

With over 30 years’ experience in print, television and interactive advertising and marketing, Brenda C. Jones is a seasoned professional. Ms. Jones’s background includes working for well-known media companies such as WPIX-TV/New York, Black Entertainment Television (BET.com), the Chicago Tribune family of newspapers, and El Diario La Prensa Newspaper, and she brings that expansive media knowledge to Agate Creatives.

Nicole holds B.A.s in Anthropology and Art History, an M.A. in Anthropology, and a J.D. with a Certificate in Intellectual Property: Arts and Museum Law. After working in cultural resource management archaeology and museums for several years, Nicole decided to pursue a career in the law and worked as a legal intern for the Field Museum during law school. While at the Field, Nicole spent much of her time working on repatriation and NAGPRA issues, assisting with research and communicating with source communities regarding their repatriation claims. After graduating, Nicole began working for the State of Illinois in various capacities, currently serving as an Administrative Law Judge for the Illinois Commerce Commission.