Originally published January 16, 2015
By Daniel Perez
UTEP News Service
The new education curator at The University of Texas at El Paso’s Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens was excited to share fresh programming ideas that she believes will promote the museum, the University and its students.
Kaye Mullins, a 14-year museum employee, assumed her new position during the 2014 fall semester but spent most of her time assisting with UTEP Centennial Celebration activities. When time allowed, she introduced herself to representatives from area museums and private and public schools.
Soft spoken and reserved, the Illinois native plans to use the museum’s resources to develop curriculum relevant to students from elementary school through higher education.
Mullins earned her bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies with concentrations in history and museum studies from UTEP in May 2014. That and her time at the museum, the last six years as administrative assistant where she assisted with tasks from operations to volunteer training to exhibit preparation, made her well prepared for the job.
“I can do this,” she said simply during an interview in the museum’s conference room. “I like people, I like working for the University, and I love this museum. It’s a privilege to be employed here.”
She had championed the museum’s need for an education curator with the various museum directors through the years, and all agreed with her. The current museum director, Maribel Villalva, was able to reorganize current staff to fill the position.
Villalva had wanted an education point person since taking the reins of the 77-year-old museum in 2013. She wanted someone who could develop curriculum and programs that would advance the institutional knowledge of the University and the natural and cultural history of the Chihuahuan Desert, one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world.
“Kaye was the best person for the job,” said Villalva, who praised Mullins for her creativity, organizational skills and readiness to help where needed. One example she gave was Mullins pulling together volunteers and activities for a weeklong children’s summer camp at the museum in 2014. “Having an education curator puts us more in line with other museums.”
Mullins referred to her yellow legal pad as she listed her plans for the first half of 2015, to include trainings, outreach, workshops, and multiple summer camps to entertain and educate students of all ages.
She plans to offer a six-week science program for elementary school children. The sessions will last 50 minutes and run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays at the museum starting Feb. 7. There will be activities and experiments involving geology, archaeology and environmental sciences such as biology. Also on her agenda is a weeklong junior master gardener class during spring break that will promote the museum’s Chihuahuan Desert Gardens. Topics will include water conservation, how food is grown and cooking.
Jackie Lee, a third grade teacher at St. Clement’s Parish School, 600 Montana, is familiar with Mullins’ work and called the museum’s new curator “incredible.” Lee, who has scheduled annual class scavenger hunts at the museum for 25 years, lauded Mullins’ efforts to enhance the museum experience for the public.
“(Mullins) sends us relevant information about pertinent exhibits,” said Lee, who planned to meet with the curator in January to discuss programming ideas for younger students. “She has her finger on the pulse.”
Machelle Wood, education and public events coordinator at the Magoffin Home State Historic Park, 1120 Magoffin Ave., said she appreciated Mullins’ efforts to reach out to others in El Paso’s “tight-knit museum community” to develop teaching materials.
“I think she’s phenomenal,” said Wood, who earned her bachelor’s degree in art from UTEP in 2004. She plans to meet with Mullins to discuss collaboration opportunities. “She has infectious enthusiasm.”
Among those on campus helping Mullins will be Daniel Carey-Whalen, UTEP museum studies and public culture coordinator. He will direct student volunteers in the museum studies program to work with her on programming. One student will be assigned to her as an intern for eight to 10 hours per week. Student volunteers will research and create labels and text panels for exhibits and may train prospective docents who would offer museum tours.
“I used to have to look to other museums to place my students to do educational elements,” Carey-Whalen said. “Now I can send them to the Centennial. It’s up to Kaye how the students will be utilized.”
Other ideas Mullins wants considered are a rooftop garden, a native plant seed library, a museum mascot, a virtual village where visitors can see life hundreds of years ago, and a “curiosity cabinet” where visitors could leave questions or specimens on a Saturday and come back the next weekend to find an answer.
“I want things to be fun,” said Mullins, who added that she would like to enhance the museum’s social media output. “I want UTEP students involved as we develop our community outreach.”