Our Staff

Amy Hartmann-Gordon – Executive Director

Amy has worked in the areas of non-profit management and fundraising for twenty years. She has been the Director of Presidio Museum for seven years, stewarding the growth and development of the Presidio into a sustainable cultural attraction. During this time she has overseen the Museum’s change in operating agreement with the City of Tucson and has stewarded the development of daily programming to enhance the regular visitor experience.  Previously she was Director of Finance for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ 2008 re-election campaign where she managed the initiative to raise over $3 million. Amy worked at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum as Associate Director of Marketing and as Development Officer where she was engaged in corporate fundraising, group sales, front-gate supervision, oversight of the annual Gala and major donor interaction.  

Amy was included in the Arizona Daily Star’s “40 Under 40” list. She has served two terms on the board of the Tucson Children’s Museum and three terms on the University High School Foundation and Alumni Association.   Amy received her MBA in 2000 from the University of Arizona. 

Kate Avalos – Director of Interpretive Programming

Kate began as a docent with the Presidio before joining the staff as Volunteer Coordinator. Over the next few season she became the lead for the Living History program and Cultural Events series. Kate creates public programming with a focus on the diverse representation of the history and cultures of Tucson and Arizona through historic re-enactment, interactive activities, and cultural celebrations. She also researches, writes, and designs exhibits for the museum. In 2020, she completed her Masters in Museum Studies, with a focus on Public History, at the Harvard University Extension School. She earned her bachelor’s in History and Animal Sciences from the University of Arizona.  

Ginger Thompson – Curator of Public History

Ginger received her B.A. in Anthropology and minor in American Indian Studies from the University of Arizona and has a professional background in archaeology and public history. As the Curator of Public History for the Tucson Presidio Trust she focuses on educational and cultural programming for children and adults. She manages and creates curriculum for field trip programs such as the Morning Muster (Presidio Museum) and Hands-on History (Fort Lowell Museum). She also creates themed hands-on activities for community events such as History in the Park and Fort Lowell Day. Ginger also plans cultural programs and museum displays with an indigenous focus such as Native Nations Day, the Early People’s Park, and Fort Lowell’s Apache Room. She is also responsible for the docent, youth volunteer, and outreach programs. Her goal is to share the rich history and culture of Tucson with all members of the community and this could not be accomplished without the help of volunteers as well as, local cultural, tribal, and historical organizations.

Aaron Johnson – Front Gate Assistant and Special Event Support

Aaron Johnson began as a volunteer at the Presidio Museum and soon became an indispensable member of the team.  He supports operations at the front gate as well as special events. Aaron has a background in special education, working with special needs children and adults as well as providing test correction for online public school testing software companies. 

Wolf Whitney-Hul – Education and Engagement Coordinator

A native of Savannah, Georgia, Wolf moved to Tucson in 2014 to study archaeology and has since worked on projects ranging from neolithic flint quarries in England to American pharmacies from the 1940s. A child of public school teachers, Wolf spent their early life road tripping across the country—visiting historic sites, exploring National Parks, and developing a love of archaeology and anthropology. Since 2019, Wolf has assisted with our Summer Camps and now runs the Friday at the Fort education program. You can occasionally catch them on Wednesdays flintknapping or working on other experiential archaeology projects at the Ask an Archaeologist program.

Felix Brigham – Interpretive Program Assistant

Felix began at the Presidio Museum as a volunteer and front desk attendant before becoming more involved in researching and writing interpretive materials for the museum. She holds a B.A. in History, and M.A. in Library & Information Science with an emphasis in Archives from the University of Arizona. Her background in history, libraries, and archives informs her passion for historical preservation, public education, and knowledge reproduction. She develops interpretive texts for museum exhibits and online outreach, and contributes to the creation and implementation of Living History and cultural events.