Staff & Board

STAFF

Dr. Maribel Alvarez

Dr. Maribel Alvarez

Founder and Senior Advisor

Maribel holds the Jim Griffith Chair in Public Folklore at the Southwest Center, University of Arizona. She has held positions at the University of Arizona as Associate Dean for Community Engagement in the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences and as Associate Provost for Diversity … Read more

AlvarezM@Arizona.edu
Jocelyn Retamoza Gonzvar

Jocelyn Retamoza Gonzvar

Managing Director

Jocelyn is a Tucson native with a deep appreciation for the cultural diversity of the city and the border region. She brings more than 12 years of experience in the restaurant, hospitality, and nonprofit sectors, along with a Master of Business Administration from the University … Read more

Jocelyn@SouthwestFolklife.org
Bryan Rafael Falcón

Bryan Rafael Falcón

Director of Programs  | Director, Tucson Meet Yourself

Bryan is a non-profit leader, theater director and tech entrepreneur with a longstanding commitment to education and community-centered arts. He co-founded the Scoundrel and Scamp Theatre in Tucson in 2016 and holds two Best Director Arizona Daily Star Mac Awards, and the Buffalo Exchange Artist Award from … Read more

Bryan@SouthwestFolklife.org
Peter Cano

Peter Cano

Administrative Associate

Cano5@Arizona.edu
Thania Cota

Thania Cota

Accounting Administrator

TCotadiaz@Arizona.edu
Kimi Eisele

Kimi Eisele

Folklorist/Communications Specialist

KimiEisele@Arizona.edu
Nelda Ruiz

Nelda Ruiz

Programs Manager in Cultural Organizing

NRuiz33@Arizona.edu
Alisha Vasquez

Alisha Vasquez

Disability Cultures Folklorist

XAlishax@Arizona.edu
Denise Uyehara

Denise Uyehara

Programs Manager in Artist Services

DUyehara@Arizona.edu

SFA BOARD

Berlin Loa

Dr. Berlin Loa

President

Associate Professor,
University of Arizona-MA Library
& Information Science

Liane Hernandez

Eula Liane Hernandez

Vice President

Senior Program Manager,
The Oped Project

Robert Bruenig

Dr. Robert Breunig

Treasurer

Retired Museum Director &
Professor Emeritus of the Museum of
Northern Arizona

Dr. Maribel Alvarez

Secretary

Professor & TMY Co-Director,
University of Arizona-College of
Social Behavioral Sciences

Azcona, Estevan

DR. Estevan Azcona

Board Member

Assistant Research
Social Scientist, University of Arizona-Southwest Center

Rhonda Bodfield

Board Member

Director Corporate Communications,
Tucson Electric Power

Susan Chan

Susan Chan

Board Member

Executive Director,
Tucson Chinese Cultural Center

Alicia Nuñez

Board Member

President and CEO,
Chicanos por la Causa

Jones, John Paul III

Dr. John Paul Jones III

Board Member

Professor, School of Geography, Dev. &
Environment, University of Arizona-College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Ernesto Portillo

Neto Portillo Jr.

Board Member

Public Information Officer for the City of Tucson’s Housing and Community Development Department

Judd Ruggill

Judd Ruggill

Board Member

UA Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Services in the Graduate College

Autumn van den Berg

Autumn Van den Berg

Board Member

Senior Vice President of
Operations, Tucson Botanical Gardens