The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture is managed by five divisions, including Archeology and the S'edav Va'aki Museum, Facilities and Operations, Grants and Community Engagement, Public Art, and Youth and Education.
Staff
The agency is led by a staff of dedicated professionals committed to supporting a robust and thriving arts and culture community in Phoenix.
Arts and Culture Director
Mitch Menchaca
Mitch Menchaca was appointed the arts and culture director for the City of Phoenix in 2018. An Arizona native, he relocated from Phoenix to Washington, D.C., in 2009 to lead the Local Arts Advancement Department at Americans for the Arts, where he guided a team of professionals serving and advancing the nation’s 5,000 local arts agencies. Before 2009, he served as the senior director of grants and programs at the Arizona Commission on the Arts, where he oversaw an extensive portfolio of grants from all artistic disciplines, across various budget sizes and regions of the state. Mitch has also held leadership and programmatic roles at Arizona Humanities, the Association of California Symphony Orchestras, Chorus America, and served as the interim director of the Phoenix Public Library. He is the past chairman of The Association of American Cultures, served on the board of directors for DataArts (formerly the Cultural Data Project), and served as the governor-appointed arts and culture co-chair for the Arizona Mexico Commission. Mitch serves as vice-chair for Latinos LEAD in Los Angeles, on the board of directors for the Arizona Community Foundation, AZ Impact for Good, and on the national board of the League of American Orchestras. He earned a Bachelor of Liberal Studies and a Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management at Arizona State University. Mitch was awarded a 2024 Leader of the Year Award in Public Policy by the Arizona Capitol Times.
Meet the Team
Nicole Armstrong-Best, Museum Director
(602) 495-0901, nicole.armstrong-best@phoenix.gov
Christopher Schwartz, City Archaeologist
(602) 534-1573, christopher.schwartz@phoenix.gov
Laura Andrew, Curator of Education and Visitor Services
(602) 534-1570, laura.andrew@phoenix.gov
Caitlin Dichter, Curator of Exhibits and Digital Content
(602) 534-2454, caitlin.dichter@phoenix.gov
Lindsay Vogel-Teeter, Curator of Collections
(602) 534-1572, lindsey.vogel-teeter@phoenix.gov
VACANT, Community Engagement Coordinator
Jack Gipson, Museum Attendant
jack.gipson@phoenix.gov
Rebecca Hill, Associate Archaeologist
rebecca.hill@phoenix.gov
Mariana Hughley, Museum Attendant
mariana.hughley@phoenix.gov
Brian Krauss, Park Ranger and Cultural Resources Specialist
brian.krauss@phoenix.gov
Ruby Maderafont, Museum Aide and Event Specialist
ruby.maderafont@phoenix.gov
Darsita North, Collections Assistant
darsita.north@phoenix.gov
Jordan Nichols, Museum Aide and Marketing Specialist
jordan.nichols@phoenix.gov
Amareece Sterba, Museum Aide and Volunteer Specialist
amareece.sterba@phoenix.gov
Adriana Zavalza, Museum Aide and Education Specialist
adriana.zavalza@phoenix.gov
Romeo Rabusa, Deputy Director
(602) 534-8334, romeo.rabusa@phoenix.gov
Benjamin Chavarria, Property Manager
(602) 262-7737, benjamin.chavarria@phoenix.gov
Patty Dunlap, Operations Coordinator
(602) 495-0185, patty.dunlap@phoenix.gov
Ken Jones, Gardener and Irrigation Specialist
(602) 534-2411, ken.jones@phoenix.gov
Aaron-Michael Ordway, Administrative Assistant
(602) 534-8192, aaron.ordway@phoenix.gov
VACANT, Groundskeeper
Sarah León, Grants and Community Engagement Director
(602) 262-6164, sarah.leon@phoenix.gov
Elida Acosta, Community Programs and Engagement Manager
(602) 495-0191, elida.acosta@phoenix.gov
Anel Arriola, Grants and Systems Manager
(602) 534-5084, anel.arriola@phoenix.gov
Carrie Brown, Deputy Director
(602) 495-0197, carrie.brown@phoenix.gov
Catina Crum, Public Art Project Manager
(602) 495-0188, catina.elizabeth@phoenix.gov
Doug Oland, Art Collections Manager
(602) 495-0193, doug.oland@phoenix.gov
Barry Sparkman, Senior Public Art Project Manager
(602) 495-0893, barry.sparkman@phoenix.gov
Nancy Thomas, Public Art Project Manager
(602) 261-8899, nancy.thomas@phoenix.gov
Mojgan Vahabzadeh, Senior Public Art Project Manager
(602) 534-7302, mojgan.vahabzadeh@phoenix.gov
Jacob Cavenee, SOMBRA Coordinator
jacob.cavenee@phoenix.gov
Tim Valencia, Youth and Education Director
(602) 256-3426, tim.valencia@phoenix.gov
Briselda Rodriguez, Youth and Education Programs Manager
(602)256-4388, briselda.rodriguez@phoenix.gov
Melissa Boyle, Community and Education Engagement Manager
(602)495-0311, melissa.boyle@phoenix.gov
VACANT, Family Education Specialist
Casey Diaz, Family Advocate
casey.diaz@phoenix.gov
Lourdes Huanuco-Diaz, Family Advocate
lourdes.huanuco.diaz@phoenix.gov
Milvia Sanchez, Family Advocate
milvia.sanchez@phoenix.gov
Anahi Galarza, Family Advocate
anahi.galarza@phoenix.gov
Victoria Gameros, Family Liaison
victoria.gameros@phoenix.gov
Gabriella Herrera, Family Liaison
gabriella.herrera@phoenix.gov
Alexandra Gallegos, Site Coordinator
alexandra.gallegos@phoenix.gov
Pamela Mancilla, Site Coordinator
pamela.mancilla@phoenix.gov
Lilia Olivarez, Site Coordinator
lilia.olivarez@phoenix.gov