Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures Staff

Executive Director - Barbara Schoenberger

A Fort Collins native, Barbara attended Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado, where she received a degree in recreation. Barbara worked for many years with Fort Collins Parks & Recreation, and she looks forward to lending her expertise and experience to the Museum.  Contact: info@globalvillagemuseum.org

Director of Communications and Outreach - Leisa Taylor

A native of Texas, Leisa received a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from UT-Austin.  Over her career, Leisa has worked in a variety of positions, including newspaper reporter, newspaper editor, photographer, TV videographer, library assistant, and defense attorney.  Leisa moved to Colorado in 2013 and lives in the mountains with two good mouser cats.  Contact: outreach@globalvillagemuseum.org and 970-221-4600

Collections and Volunteer Manager - Kat Yoshie Bertram

Kat received her Master of Arts from CU Boulder, where she majored in Japanese Buddhist Art with a minor in Black Diasporic Art. She earned her Bachelor of Arts – graduating Magna Cum Laude – in Art History and Studio Art from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Kat served as a Teaching Assistant with CU Boulder’s Department of Art and Art History and as a Curatorial Intern with the Asheville Art Museum. Contact: collections@globalvillagemuseum.org

Museum Shop - Lori Miles

Lori retired in January 2021 after a 25 year career as an Ophthalmic Account Manager for a large pharmaceutical company. Lori grew up in New Jersey, raised her son and daughter in the Atlanta area and after retiring Lori, her husband Chip and their golden retriever Nika settled in Fort Collins. After a few years of settling in, exploring and enjoying everything the area has to offer, Lori volunteered at GVM as a docent at the front desk. A few months in, Lori jumped at the chance to be a part of the expansion of the Museum Shop. Lori enjoys everything about managing the shop, but her favorite part is meeting everyone who stops in. Next time you walk by, stop in and say hello. Contact: lori@globalvillagemuseum.org

Operations Management - Emily Zaynard

Based in Fort Collins, Emily Zaynard is currently scrolling through TikTok and should probably put her phone down. When she’s not spinning spreadsheets, welcoming visitors, or wrangling the Global Village Museum printer, she’s creating, writing, and designing on a deadline. Emily believes in stopping into art museums, historic buildings, and cat cafes and hopes to travel again soon! Contact: operations@globalvillagemuseum.org

2025 Executive Board

Board Chair - Randall Kurtz

Randall is a native Northern Coloradoan who came to Fort Collins in 1996. He and his wife Nancy raised three children in Fort Collins. He is a retired Sales Executive who is active in the community through the Rotary Club of Fort Collins, the Museum, and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. I was fortunate to meet and come to know John Roberts, one of the founders. Because of that influence, I developed a deeper appreciation for world cultures and art. The museum has become a passion where I fully support the mission of the Museum. I believe it plays a vital role in our community!

Vice Chair - Heidi Cross

Heidi Cross was raised in Fort Collins and attended Colorado State University, studying Political Science. Heidi was employed by the City of Fort Collins for 27 years, spending the majority of her time, as a Patrol Officer with Police Services, and with special interest in working with the departments youth Police Explorer Program, The Laramie River Valley Rendezvous ( a summer camp for at risk teenagers), as well as man-trailing bloodhounds. After retiring Heidi worked for several years managing a local veterinary clinic. She currently is a sales representative for several yarn and accessory companies that provide goods for the fiber industry. Heidi has a personal interest in photography and travel, and was on the original board of directors for the Mundoville Museum.

Treasurer - Kathleen Batterton

Kathleen Batterton is a native of Fort Collins. Not only was she born, raised and educated in Fort Collins, she is a fourth generation Fort Collins resident. Her maternal grandmother graduated from Fort Collins in 1896 - where Kathleen also graduated. She graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Business and later received her Masters degree in Business Education. She lived in many cities while her former husband Larry was in the Air Force. She taught business at the CE School of Commerce in Omaha, NB and also Parks School of Business in Denver. Kathleen is the mother of two children, the late John Batterton and daughter Sari Gartner. During the raising of her children she was an active leader of Camp Fire Girls and on the Executive Board for Boy Scouts of America. Upon returning to Fort Collins, Kathleen took a position at Dellenbach Motors working as the Office Manager and Accountant for 20 years both in Greeley and Fort Collins. Now retired, Kathleen has enjoyed traveling the world with her late partner, John Roberts, and now her daughter, Sari, and friends. She has also handled the finances for GVM for the past ten years.

Secretary - Sherry Gardner

Gardner Psy D. is a licensed clinical psychologist, former infectious disease epidemiologist, spinner and weaver and avid swimmer and kayaker. She is also lover of beautiful things which is why she is on the board of the museum. Art is an avenue to understanding and appreciating peoples, their countries, history, and values which is a necessary step toward achieving world peace.

2025 Board of Directors

Martha Denney

Martha’s passion for global connections began early, inspired by her father’s stories from Brazil during World War II. In college, she studied rural sociology and development work, earning a degree in Textiles and Extension Education. She later joined Colorado State University (CSU) as an Extension Agent and completed a master’s in Adult and Community Education in 1978. Selected by the U.S. State Department, she worked in Swaziland (now Eswatini) with women’s and youth programs in the Ministry of Agriculture. Returning to Colorado, she focused on women in development and organization development. In 1982, CSU hired her to coordinate International Training Programs, including the Hubert Humphrey Fellows. Over 30 years, she worked with international professionals and non-degree trainees, leading innovative programs. Between 1989 and 2011, she consulted on gender in development in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Angola. In 1993, Martha became CSU’s Director of International Education, expanding study abroad programs, building international partnerships, and supporting faculty global initiatives. She organized cultural exhibitions and played a key role in CSU’s Peace Corps and Fulbright Programs. An active NAFSA member for 35 years, she held leadership roles and helped plan conferences for 10,000 international educators. She co-founded the Global Village Museum to celebrate international folk arts and cultural preservation. A lifelong traveler, Martha enjoys pottery, metalsmithing, and collecting beads and textiles. She also spends part of her time in Hawaii, exploring Pacific cultures.

Steve Dietemann

Steve Dietemann is passionate and devoted to the arts. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with Concentration in Ceramics and Kindergarten through twelfth grade education from Colorado State University. He also received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wyoming with a concentration in ceramics. Steve was born in Fort Collins, He later worked for the City of Fort Collins as the Coordinator of Arts, Crafts and Pottery for more than 25 years. He enjoys serving on the museum’s Board of Directors and on two museum sub committees, the Exhibit Committee, and the Membership Committee. Steve loves just about all things outdoors and looks forward to sharing them with his three kids and his Greater Swiss Mountain Dog named Terabyte.

Katelyn Garfield

Bio Coming Soon

Garth McCann

Garth McCann has been a resident of FC since 1970, building a distinguished career as an investment broker specializing in stocks and real estate. Holding a PhD from Ohio State University, he also served as a professor at both OSU and CSU. His leadership extends beyond academia and finance, having held numerous roles in the Rotary, Interfaith Council, and various political organizations. A dedicated father and grandfather, Garth has significantly contributed to his community, blending professional expertise with a passion for service.

Lynette McGowan

I moved to Colorado in my mid-twenties for the skiing and recreation. I found a good job in Breckenridge with the Summit County Department of Human Services/Senior Services Coordinator. In the mid-80s, my husband and I quit our jobs and embarked on an 18-month ‘travel-on-a-shoestring’ trip in Asia. From this experience we decided to work overseas. We began our first international work with the American Friends Service Committee (Quakers) in the Lao PDR. This experience laid the foundation for my seven years of work in international development with NGOs. I was employed with HelpAge International (located in Chiang Mai, Thailand) as a Training Adviser and traveled extensively in Southeast, South and Central Asia. My work experience locally spans 23 years with the Larimer County Office on Aging. I served as the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and the Family Caregiver Support Program Coordinator. My 20 years as a volunteer with Ten Thousand Villages (TTV) created a passion for fair trade and empowerment of artisans in developing countries. I served on the TTV Board in various positions for 15 years, starting in 2005 and until the store closure in 2023. In my leisure time I stay active with hiking, biking, and skiing. Since retirement, we’ve been traveling in a ‘vintage’ pop-up trailer throughout the West. I’ve also been volunteering with various organizations, and taking classes in life-long learning. My husband and I live up in the foothills in an adobe home we built ourselves.

Laura Thornes

Laura Thornes is proud to serve on board of the Global Village Museum as she is passionate about international education and immersive cross-cultural engagement. She started her career as a high school German and Spanish teacher leading students abroad on exchange programs and earned her master’s degree in counseling. She is originally from Arizona and came to Fort Collins in 2011 to be CSU’s Director of Education Abroad. Her team sent about 1,600 CSU students per year to over 80 countries for study, research, internships, service learning, fieldwork, etc. Currently she works in fundraising for CSU’s international projects and interdisciplinary research. She loves to visit new places and spend time outdoors with her husband, adult daughters, and twin kittens.

Bonnie Titley

Bonnie Titley received her B.A. and M.A. from the University of Colorado. As a licensed commercial pilot with an instrument rating since 1980, Bonnie has “collected” 156 airports in 46 states and Canada. Bonnie has extensively traveled to six continents, and over 50 countries. Her passion for travel started at the age of four when her father explained what a map was. Her extensive international travel has inspired her love of world art and cultures.

The Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which depends on community donations and memberships. We appreciate your support!

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