WMA Announces Appointment of New Executive Director

The board of the Western Museums Association is pleased to announce that Elida Zelaya has been appointed interim Executive Director. She replaces Lisa Martin.

Elida has been the WMA Program and Membership Director since 2005. In this role she has improved and personalized corporate membership, and increased vendor participation in the annual conference exhibit hall. Elida has been a key member of the conference program committee for the last three years, championing member participation through round-table sessions and forums. 

 “We are fortunate to have someone with Elida’s wide-ranging experience to sustain WMA’s excellent service to museum professionals in the west during this period of transition” said David Porter, WMA Board President.

Elida has been active in the museum field for more than a decade. Before joining the WMA staff, she served on the WMA Board of Directors as the Committee on Audience Research and Evaluation (CARE) representative.  As the board Publications Chair, she worked closely with staff and guest editors on the Westmuse newsletter. Her professional experience includes working with many types of museums and across departments with particular emphasis on education programming encompassing program development, managing volunteers, and working directly with the public through tours and special presentations. A consultant with LORD Cultural Resources from 1999 to 2005, Elida worked on management and facility projects in the West. Her background also includes positions at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum (Museum Teacher), San Diego Museum of Man (Manager of the Children's Discovery Center), and the Tallac Historic Site, South Lake Tahoe (Museum Director/Curator Intern), among others. Elida earned an M.A. in museum studies from John F. Kennedy University, and a B.A. in classical civilizations (minors in art history and geology) from the University of California, Davis.  An avid SCUBA diver and caver, she loves to venture into the deep, dark depths offered along the California coast and Sierra foothills.

Elida notes, "I'm really looking forward to continuing our tradition of exceptional annual meetings and an enriching member experience.  WMA provides the opportunity for members to share and to learn about best practices from our outstanding colleagues in the west and beyond."

You may reach Elida at (510) 665-0700 or elida@westmuse.org .