Senior Leadership

David Breeckner
Executive Director
A passion for history and learning. These traits define Dr. David Breeckner, and describe a career spanning the fields of archaeology, college lecturing, public history, and museum management. A transplant from New England, Dr. Breeckner received his Masters and Doctorate in Classical Archaeology at Trinity College Dublin in Dublin, Ireland. Since 2011, Dr. Breeckner has served as ceramic archaeologist with the Priniatikos Pyrgos Project, an Irish-led excavation based on the Mediterranean island of Crete. There, he specialized in the study of the enigmatic Minoan civilization of the Greek Bronze Age. His work with the Project demonstrated the transformative nature of interacting with history: that the sensation of studying and handling artifacts was in fact a conversation — one that bridges the present with the countless lives and stories of the past, and makes it come alive. This philosophy now drives Dr. Breeckner in all his endeavors. An educator, Dr. Breeckner has served as a member of faculty in various state universities, where his courses covered historical subjects and civilizations from prehistory through to the Renaissance. His time with students has refined a pedagogy focused around deep engagement, with the goal to reveal the relevancy of the past and to inspire meaningful connections between students and their subject. He believes that history belongs to the communities they represent, and that its study can provide new meaning and value to our present and future. David is thrilled to share his experience-based way of learning and a forward-looking vision for the future with the people of Arizona, joining AHS with his wife Leslye and their two dogs, Brandy and Akira.

Rebekah Tabah-Percival
Assistant Director, Vice President, Library, Archives, Collections, & Exhibits
Rebekah is an Arizona native with a deep affinity for photographs. She received a Bachelor of Science in Photography from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Arts in Photographic Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University in Toronto. Rebekah has worked in a wide variety of museums, archives, libraries, and galleries in the United States, Canada, and Europe. She has extensive experience in processing large and complex photograph and media collections, and has preserved, processed and made available over 150,000 photographs consisting of various formats. Rebekah is currently a Ph.D. candidate in public history at Arizona State University. Her dissertation topic explores the history of photography in the southwest borderlands and iconic imagery of the American West.

Vince Bradley
Assistant Deputy Director: Vice President of Marketing, Communications, Development & Finance
Vince Bradley, a seasoned professional, and the newly appointed Assistant Deputy Director and Vice President overseeing Marketing, Communications, Development, and Finance, brings a unique blend of talents to the Arizona Historical Society. With a teaching background in mathematics, Vince’s analytical acumen is a cornerstone of his career. His diverse journey includes stints in professional theater, roles at Honda Financial, and as a Realtor in Western Massachusetts. Beyond his professional life, Vince is a dedicated chess enthusiast, serving on two state boards, and often lending his expertise to coaching others. He’s equally at home in the great outdoors, where he’s participated in various team and individual sports as both a player and coach. Together with his wife Laura, Vince is a loving parent to two young sons, aged nine and five. Relocating from New Hampshire, the Bradleys eagerly join the Arizona Historical Society team.

Jaynie Adams
History Engagement Coordinator
Jaynie Adams is the History Engagement Coordinator for the Arizona Historical Society. She holds an MA in history from the University of Arizona and is privileged to work in Tucson, her hometown. Jaynie is an associate editor of the Journal of Arizona History, one of AHS’ team of staff historians, the AHS Research Fellowship Coordinator, and the Certified Historical Institution Coordinator.  Her work as a historian is rooted in a place-based practice where she critically explores race, place, and belonging in the American Southwest.

Todd Bailey
Special Projects Coordinator
Todd Bailey is an Arizona native who has traveled the world as a professional dance and dance educator. He began developing a passion for Arizona history as a child. His grandparents told stories of their family and other African American families migrating west, from the southern states. Todd has been with the Arizona Historical Society since 2018, and in that time has worn many hats. He has been a liaison for a Certified Historical Institution program, and has helped with connecting curation to black historians and local communities that have been a challenge to track. Todd’s relationship with Marked by COVID, a nationwide awareness and support group, led to a very important and timely COVID Memorial Proclamation Event. As part of the Guest Experience team, he had the unique experience of listening as grieving Arizonans spoke of their family loss amidst the pandemic. 

Rachael Black
Archivist & Librarian
Rachael Black grew up in Colorado, but has spent the better part of the last decade circling the American West for various jobs and school. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in southwest studies from Fort Lewis College and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Washington. Rachael’s career in museums began when she stumbled into a work study job at the Delaney Library at the Center for Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College. Since then, she has worked in a variety of different institutions, from public libraries to state archives, and on a variety of projects, including creating interactive maps of botanical gardens, and coordinating a multi -million-dollar National Science Foundation grant. She is happy to be back at home in the museum field.

Chris Bradley
Associate Editor
Christopher Bradley grew up in Tucson and has lived in Arizona for fifty years. Chris has had a life-long passion for history, and he is currently completing a PhD at Arizona State University, focusing on the mid-nineteenth century Arizona-Sonora borderlands. He has also served as book review editor for The Journal of Arizona History. Chris previously completed a thirty-year career in Arizona county government, where he played leading roles in budgeting, performance management, strategic planning and employee benefits administration. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Washington and Lee University and a masters from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.

Ella Breed
Archivist & Librarian
Ella Breed is an emerging professional in the field of archives and information science having just completed her Master of Science in Information Science with a concentration in Archives and Records Management at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Vermont, where she also minored in Animal Science. Ella’s journey in the archival world began with her role as circulation staff at the Howe Library. Since then she has worked for institutions like The Breman Museum and the Jack and Shirley Silver Special Collections Library. Now serving as an archivist at the Arizona Historical Society, Ella is dedicated to improving public service and community engagement through innovative archival initiatives. Passionate about lifelong learning and public service, Ella is excited to contribute to the preservation of Arizona’s rich history while fostering connections between the past and present.

Isabel Cazares
Archivist & Librarian
Isabel Cazares recently joined the team at AHS as a staff archivist. Having graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and East Asian Studies and from Simmons University with a Master’s of Science in Library and Information Science, Isabel brings a broad skillset and unique perspective to the team. Isabel connects communities with their rich heritage and engages AHS visitors and the general public by sharing her passion for history. Her goals at AHS include enhancing practices to share dynamic archival materials with a broader audience and learning more about Arizona’s fascinating history. Isabel is always interested in engaging conversation and dynamic discussion and supports that interest by managing a local book club, exploring a broad range of topics, from history to science fiction.

Nikky D’Anzi
Membership and Outreach Coordinator
Nikky joined the Arizona Historical Society in July of 2023. Originally hailing from Connecticut, Nikky previously worked for her hometown municipality. She has a long-standing love of history, a desire to understand how “who we were” can influence “who we become,” and a passion for serving her community; Nikky hopes this combination will help create an interesting, exciting experience for guests at the Arizona Heritage Center. In her free time, Nikky enjoys video games, gardening (and learning how to do so successfully in AZ!), reading historical and post- apocalyptic fiction, and exploring parks and trails throughout Arizona.

Jace Dostal
Museum Collections Manager
Jace Dostal joined the Arizona Historical Society in July 2021. He helps ensure the safety of the collections housed across AHS museums and historical sites. As an avid museum goer, Jace developed his passion for museums at a young age. After earning his B.A. in history from Iowa State University, he followed his passion to Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis where he earned his M.A. in Museum Studies. While in Indy, he interned at the Rhythm! Discovery Center where he worked on a major rehousing initiative within the collection. His work at Rhythm! has made him interested in the intersection between the public’s access to museum collections and the preservation of the objects in the collection. He is a strong advocate for granting the public easier access to the collection while still maintaining the safety and longevity of the collection as a whole. A native Iowan, Jace is excited to explore Arizona and learn about the diverse history of the state.

Vanessa Fajardo
Exhibits Supervisor
Vanessa Fajardo has always had a passion for sharing diverse history with Tucson communities. During her senior year at the University of Arizona, she began her work at the Arizona History Museum curating a temporary exhibition on African American WAACs at Fort Huachuca during WWII. After earning her Bachelor of Arts from the UA, where she double majored in history and religious studies, Vanessa became an intern and completed her first professional exhibition, January 8, 2011: Hope and Resilience. As both a first-generation American and college graduate, she has a passion for creating, developing, and designing exhibitions that are honest about past histories and are inclusive of all peoples and groups. Vanessa feels thankful and privileged that the Arizona Historical Society is a place to present and discuss the past in an impartial and creative way.

Kaydi Forgia
Executive Staff Assistant
Kaydi’s family has called Arizona home for nearly one hundred years. Kaydi represents the third generation born in Arizona. Prior to joining the Arizona Historical Society, Kaydi devoted fifteen years of service to special education classrooms and economic support services. Kaydi will always hold their former students and clients close to their heart. They loved finding opportunities to bring history and art to life in the classroom, and creating differentiated lessons that made curriculum accessible to every student. Kaydi also enjoys genealogy, reading fantasy novels, escaping dungeons during their family game nights, camping, and collecting craft projects. When Kaydi is not lost in old family records, novels, crafts, or a new D & D campaign they love to spend time outside with family and friends.

David Turpie
Vice President of Publications and Communications 
David holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Maine. After teaching college-level history in Maine and editing the state history journal in Maine (Maine History), David moved to the Kentucky Historical Society, where he served as editor of the state history journal (the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society) and oversaw the KHS Research Fellowship Program. At AHS, David oversees AHS’s Publications and Outreach team, including serving as editor of the Journal of Arizona History and coordinating the new partnership between AHS Publications and the University of Arizona Press for a book series on Arizona history. He has published his own research in several journals, including the Journal of Southern History, the Journal of Sport History, and the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography (forthcoming). David serves as AHS’s representative on the Arizona History Convention board and also serves on the editorial advisory board of the University of Arizona Press.

Kristen Rex
Vice President of Education
As a 2nd generation educator and third generation Arizonan, Dr. Kristen Rex brings a student-centered focus to AHS. After 33 years of serving students across the state as a teacher, principal, and superintendent she brings an understanding of state education standards, differentiation of instruction/curriculum, and experience in serving educators and students. Dr. Rex earned her bachelors of science in elementary education/journalism and masters of educational leadership from Northern Arizona University. She earned her Masters in Humanities and Doctorate of Education from Harrison Middleton University where she focused on Arizona state reading standards. Her educational experience has been in elementary, English/Language Arts in middle school, high school, and schools for at risk youth and deaf/HH, blind/VI, Deafblind students. She brings a love for history and learning as both her parents, brother, numerous aunts and uncles were Arizona educators. Her goal is to bring opportunities for teachers and students to align state standards, thematic instruction, professional development opportunities, programming and outreach to educators across the state to support the collection, preservation, interpretation of history of Arizona. Kristen is married with 3 grown children. She loves to travel, reading, embroidery, repurposing-thrifting, and spending time in the White Mountains with her family.

Sebastian Alt
Administrative Service Officer IV
Sebastian served 10 years in the USAF, managed Government spending and procurement accounts, was Wing level Program Manager, and CPI Facilitator. He received AAS in Aerospace Technology, BA in Homeland Security, and is finishing his MBA (March 2024) and MA in Joint Warfare (August 2024). After which he will pursue his CPA certification. Sebastian is certified as a Combat Medic Instructor, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and nationally certified Phlebotomist. He received training through the Defense Acquisitions University, and received his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification through Villanova University. He has over a decade of Project and Program Management experience and skills in M&A, Corporate Finance, and Six Sigma tools. Sebastian has 3 wonderful kids that he spends his spare time with, and he enjoys instructing emergency medicine, six sigma, and finance courses. He is very excited to be taking on this financial role with the Arizona Historical Society.

Elyssa Otero Marley
Guest Experience Specialist
Elyssa is a graduate of the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s in History and a minor in Evolutionary and Ecological Biology. A 10th generation descendant of the Otero family, Arizona’s history is in her blood! Through her work at Historic Fort Lowell, the Downtown History Museum and the Arizona History Museum in Tucson, she has gained a broad understanding of Arizona history. As a Guest Experience Specialist, Elyssa works to make every guest feel comfortable and welcome. A practiced crafter, she loves having the opportunity to use her gifts to teach guests many different art forms, from weaving to candle dipping. The one thing she can’t seem to get the hang of is knitting!

Tamara Mack McElwee
Events Specialist & Rentals
Tamara is a 5th Generation Tucsonan and UA alum, and has over 25 years of experience in event design, production, marketing and PR. She joined AHM in July of 2021 and has been able to share her skills through designing and producing one-of-a-kind historical, celebrity and educational events connecting the Tucson community, as well as, developing an exciting rental venue opportunity for Tucsonans. Formerly the House Manager for The Fox Theatre, Tamara helped rebuild Fox events, reclaiming the theatre’s title as “The Crowned Jewel of Downtown Tucson.” Tamara has a strong non-profit background and has been involved in multiple Tucson charities, boards and coalitions, including the appointment as a small business owner to the original Rio Nuevo Board. She is an avid artist, actress and trains and competes as a pro powerlifter and bodybuilder. When not working on events, she enjoys time outside in her garden with her collection of rescue animals!

Salessia McGowan
Volunteer Coordinator
Salessia McGowan has a passion for volunteering and serving in the community. She has joined the Arizona Historical Society, where she will serve as the Volunteer Coordinator. Along with her passion for service, she has wide-ranging experience in administration, Human Resources, training, procurement, and as an educator. Salessia actively serves in her church where she is the Assistant Director of Jr. Bible College. She has served as a C.A.S.A. with Maricopa County and participates with the local Arizona Doeg Nelson chapter of NOBLE. Salessia holds a B.A. in Criminal Behavior from Western International University. She possesses her Leadership Certification for non-profit organizations from Living Word Bible College. When she is not in the office, Salessia enjoys time with family and friends, loves travel and enjoys exploring restaurants around the valley.

Jennifer Merry
Archivist & Historian
Jennifer once dreamed of becoming the next Howard Carter, and achieved a Bachelor of Arts in classical archaeology from the University of Arizona. Later, an opportunity to preserve a small family cemetery inspired her to pursue a Master of Arts in history with a concentration in public history. She has worked on projects for Salt River Project, the Arizona State Archives, and Scottsdale Historic Preservation. Jennifer was the News Content Coordinator for the State of Arizona Research Library, where she managed an extensive newspaper collection and co-wrote an accepted NEH grant. She chairs the Arizona chapter of the Association for Gravestone Studies and the cemetery law committee, and sits on boards for several local museums, genealogy, and lineage societies. She speaks on cemetery preservation and law reform, incorporating both in the Genealogy Research Methods practicum she teaches for ASU’s History Master’s Program. When she isn’t working, volunteering, or with her husband and many pets, she loves writing stories.

Peter Mueller-Martin
Building Maintenance Specialist
Peter moved to Arizona from Germany in 1993 to marry his wife Regina, a Tucson native. Peter is a Master Fireplace and Wood Burning Heating System builder by trade. He joined the Arizona Historical Society in 2016 after retiring as a Physical Plant Director from the Correctional Officer Training Academy in Tucson. Growing up in the former East Germany, Peter was always interested in history and social developments. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, he worked for a year in the Government Offices for the files of the former East German Secret Service Police (Stasi), providing victims of political persecution access to their files. He enjoys providing support for the next generation of caretakers of Arizona history within the museums of the Arizona Historical Society.

Leonard Moody
National History Day in Arizona Coordinator
Leonard joined AHS in February of 2024 as the National History Day Coordinator for Arizona. He is a Tucson native and graduated from the University of Arizona in 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism. He is thrilled to be apart of AHS and running the National History Day program for Arizona. History has always been a strong interest of his and he enjoys running a program where he can share his interest with students ranging from 4th grade through 12th grade. Leonard is committed to contributing to academic excellence and is determined to make history exciting for the next generation.

Ardyn Shepard
Facility Rental Coordinator 
Ardyn Shepard was born in Arizona, and has a deep love and appreciation for the history of the Southwest. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in History and Museum Studies from ASU, and is excited to help people host memorable and meaningful events here at the Arizona Historical Society. She discovered her passion for museum work and connecting people to history during her tenure with the Arizona Museum of Natural History in Downtown Mesa. In her down time, she can be found working on various miniature projects, going to concerts, or settling in for a quiet day with her cat, her husband, and a good book.

Cari Van Hecke
Graphic Designer
Cari joined the Arizona Historical Society in August 2022, as the Graphic Designer. She was born and raised in Minnesota and moved to Arizona 6 years ago. With 25 years of experience in graphic design and marketing, Cari has had the opportunity to work with different companies to elevate their brand and grow their business. She is excited to utilize her creativity and graphic design skills to promote all that AHS has to offer. In her free time Cari enjoys exploring Arizona with her son, making jewelry and relaxing at the pool.

Angel Villasenor
Procurement Officer
Angel grew up in Southern California and soon after graduating highschool he joined the AirForce and moved to Arizona in 2013. Angel has worked in different sectors of the logistics field since separating in 2019, and now has close to 10 years of supply/logistics experience working with both military and civilian organizations. He has seen plenty of bizarre things in his career, as well as met many great people, and he looks forward to continuing that trend working with the Arizona Historical Society. When Angel’s not working he likes to spend time with his partner Rhi, have game nights with friends, paint, and do his absolute best to keep plants alive.