Shawna Angelou brings a range of core skills to NAAM stemming from her professional experience in the medical and technical fields and specifically working as a Seattle Medic and with Streaming Media Productions. Shawna oversees the Museum facility and operations from security to technical and production support. She enjoys the challenge and the constant "discovery" in working at the Northwest African American Museum.  Shawna is the proud parent of two young children and actively involved with their school - Orca Elementary.

Deborah graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a B.A. in Art History (with honors). She attended the University of San Francisco Law School and received her J.D. in 1984. After practicing law for many years, she decided to return to her first love, art history, and enrolled in the Museum Studies Certificate Program offered through the University of Washington Extension. She received her certificate in June, 2007 and interned at the Tacoma Art Museum. She also volunteered at the Nordic Heritage Museum and the James Washington Jr. Foundation before being hired at NAAM. Her job spans programming, education, and grant writing, and she finds it challenging and always interesting.

Brian J. Carter currently serves as Deputy Director/Education Director of the Northwest African American Museum. He is responsible for developing, implementing and overseeing the full range of the Museum’s educational and interpretive programming. Brian graduated with high honors from Stanford University, where he majored in American History with a minor in African and African American Studies. He is also a graduate of the University of Washington’s master’s program in Museology, where he completed internships with the Henry Art Gallery and NAAM. Brian currently serves on the 4Culture Heritage Advisory Committee and the University of Washington’s Museology Certificate Program Advisory Committee.

Twanda Hill, Special Events Director, has worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years planning special events, designing graphics and fulfilling sales and marketing projects. She is a proven event professional and is thrilled to join the Northwest African American Museum family. Her expertise and excellent service will help enhance your special events at NAAM.

Kay joined the NAAM staff as Development Director in April 2008. She served as Director of International Programs at the University of Washington for 17 years and since then has been teaching and working in Namibia, South Africa, Korea, and the Yakima Valley in Washington State. Kay has a Master's degree in Education Policy and Planning from the University of Washington, and B.A. in Anthropology. She brings a background in non-profit management and development experience to this position and most importantly, a passionate commitment to the success of the Northwest African American Museum as a vital cultural and community center that inspires, empowers, and connects us all.

Lani Lehman, Volunteer Coordinator, has a strong background in both art history and studio arts. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Art History from Seattle University, before working with the Northwest African American Museum. Lani is responsible for not only coordinating the NAAM Volunteer Corps, but also touring groups of visitors and facilitating the Museum’s art programs for visiting school groups. Lani’s ability to organize and lead a large volunteer corps, as well as assist in developing multiple areas of the Museum make her an essential part of the NAAM team.

Olivia Littles Erickson, Membership Associate, is responsible for managing membership requests and databases, and assisting with grant writing. Currently a Ph.D. student in anthropology at the University of Washington, her interest in museums and history has led to positions at the William S. Hart Museum in Los Angeles, Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, and The D'Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian History at the Newberry Library in Chicago, before coming to NAAM in 2007.

Vanessa was drawn to the vibrant and colorful NAAM culture on her first visit to the Museum during the Making a Life, Creating a World exhibit, and has been involved since then as a member, volunteer, and currently as the school/group tour coordinator and administrative assistant. Vanessa is honored to be a part of the NAAM community, and sees building and sustaining connections locally as essential to effecting sustainability and cooperation on a global scale. In addition to her work at NAAM, she is studying Foreign Languages and Global Health at Seattle Central Community College.

Barbara served as the Museum’s Curator before becoming Executive Director in 2009. Barbara holds a B.A. and MFA in fine arts from the University of Washington. She is an accomplished artist and writer with 25 years of successful arts administrative and marketing experience including service as the Program Director for the Seattle Arts Commission, Director of Seattle’s Bumbershoot Seattle Arts Festival, and Marketing Manager for The Elliott Bay Book Company. Her knowledge of the arts world, impeccable writing style, ability to manage and create arts related budgets as well as her experience managing volunteers for high profile arts projects make her a cornerstone of the project.

Katie Williams, Education Assistant, comes to NAAM with a passion for community-based museums. Her interests in art and history combined with a love of people led Katie to study museums and how they can best tell their stories to engage and educate visitors. She graduated from Lewis & Clark College with a Bachelor’s degree in Art History and earned a Master’s degree from the Museum Studies program at John F. Kennedy University.  Prior to working at NAAM, she interned at the Wing Luke Asian Museum and the Nordic Heritage Museum, as well as the Oakland Museum of California.