It is recruitment season once again here at Museum Education Roundtable! If you’re curious what being a board member is all about, let’s hear from Dr. Marta Torres who is approaching her fifth and final year of board service. Marta has been a crucial member of the Board of Directors, serving at various times as the Co-Vice President, Co-Treasurer, and Secretary and having experience on the Sustainability Team and Communications Team. Thank you, Marta, for your commitment to MER and for sharing your perspective with prospective applicants!

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I didn’t expect that joining the Museum Education Roundtable Board would become one of the most grounding throughlines of my career.

When I stepped into MER as Co-Treasurer, I was in the middle of a transition. I had stepped away from museum work and was reimagining what my path could look like across education, arts, and community-centered spaces. At the time, I wasn’t sure when—or if—I would return to museums. But I knew I didn’t want to lose connection to the field.

MER became that connection.

It was a space where I could stay in conversation, continue learning, and remain rooted in the values that brought me to museum education in the first place—access, equity, and meaningful public engagement. Even as my work expanded beyond traditional museum roles, MER held a place for me.

Over the years, my role within the organization evolved—from Co-Treasurer to Vice President, and now Secretary. With each transition came new responsibilities and new ways of thinking about leadership. I learned how to navigate governance and strategy within a volunteer-driven organization. How to support continuity while also contributing to growth. How to lead collaboratively, in ways that center both people and purpose.

And through it all, the constant has been the community.

MER has been with me through uncertainty and expansion—through moments of questioning and moments of clarity. It has been a space where I didn’t have to compartmentalize who I am. I could show up as an educator, an artist, a strategist, and a community builder—all at once.

Along the way, I’ve made dear friends. I’ve connected with colleagues across the country and across the pond—shoutout to our current MER President, Alexandra, for being both a wonderful tour guide and a true friend. These relationships have deepened my understanding of this work and continue to remind me that museum education is part of a much larger, global conversation.

It has also been a place that, when my personal life felt at its heaviest, held me with care. My friends and colleagues at MER showed up with grace—offering support, understanding, and space—while still encouraging my continued growth. That kind of community is rare, and it’s something I don’t take lightly.

Now, as I step into my role as Head of Education at a Museum in downtown Dallas, I feel the full circle of that journey.

I return to museums not as the same professional who stepped away, but as someone shaped by interdisciplinary work, community engagement, and leadership across sectors. MER has been a constant presence in that evolution, grounding me while also expanding how I think about the field.

Next year, I will begin my fifth and final year of service on the MER Board. And as I look ahead to that milestone, I’m thinking deeply about what it means to stay committed to a community over time.

There is something powerful about sustained engagement—about showing up year after year, building trust, and growing alongside others. MER has offered me that space, and it has shaped me in ways I’m still uncovering.

If you’ve ever thought about joining the MER Board, I encourage you to take that step. There is space for you here. Your perspective, your lived experience, and your voice matter in shaping where this field is going.

I’m grateful, for the relationships, for the collaboration, and for the collective vision that MER continues to foster. And I’m looking forward to stepping into this next year with intention, knowing that this community will continue to be part of my work long after my board service concludes.

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Dr. Marta Torres

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You can find more information about board service, including how to apply, here. Completed application forms and a copy of the applicant’s resume must be received by May 22nd at 11:59 PST to be considered for the 2026 board member recruitment cycle.

Marta Torres (she/her/ella) currently serves as the Head of Education, Sixth Floor Museum at Dealy Plaza
and the Education & Outreach Coordinator, Kinfolk House. She is Secretary of the Museum Education Roundtable.