Heather Para joined NMSU in 2024 as the curator of the University Museum in Kent Hall, which is an extension of the Department of Anthropology. She also teaches classes in museum studies.
Para grew up moving around a lot and has lived on four continents. She has three decades of experience working in cultural and archaeological museums in Oklahoma, Alaska and Texas.
“I came here because I really like building community, and I have a lot of experience helping museums rebuild and find their feet, so to speak,” Para said. “This museum offered a great opportunity to do both of those things, and even better, to work with students toward those shared goals.”
As curator of the University Museum, Para takes care of the museum’s extensive collection of archaeological, ethnographic and historical objects. She ensures the exhibits within its galleries are held to a high standard. She manages the use, care and upkeep of the museum building itself (Kent Hall), which is used for classes, museum tours, lectures, meetings and departmental gatherings. Para supervises museum volunteers, work-study students, museum interns and graduate research assistants.
She ensures the museum is compliant with federal requirements regarding curation of Indigenous artifacts. Para also manages grants to help with collections care and other museum needs. She teaches museum-related classes within the Department of Anthropology, to include those required for the museum studies graduate certificate. Para also advises the graduate students enrolled in the Museum Studies graduate certificate program.
Since Para began as curator, the University Museum now has 4 exhibit gallery spaces, all occupied by student exhibits. It now also has spaces for classes and lectures, an in-house archaeology lab, common areas for students and staff and faculty and student offices where there were none before.
“I have ensured the collections are housed safely and securely in appropriately climate-managed spaces,” Para said. “I have also upgraded our collections management database so we can track our collections and maintain records. The museum studies classes have been overhauled, and the focus is now on hands-on learning, using the museum as a laboratory for students to learn museum processes using the artifacts in our collection. Several recent graduates of our museum studies program are now employed in museums in the region.”
She is most proud of her role in building the University Museum into a vibrant gathering place where students feel comfortable spending time, in classes, working on museum projects and just hanging out between classes.
“The best thing about my job is watching students discover how much fun it really is to work in museums.”
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Cutline: Heather Para is the curator of the University Museum in Kent Hall. (Courtesy photo)