Liz Martineau visits the History Museum for the first time since signing on as the future executive director of the Los Alamos Historical Society. Photo by Sharon Snyder
The Los Alamos Historical Society’s Board of Directors wishes to announce that Elizabeth Martineau will become the new Executive Director of the Society beginning June 6.
Martineau says that a love of history drew her to the job, an interest she credits to her father, who she describes as “a history buff.” She is drawn to all parts of Los Alamos history, though the homestead era has a definite appeal.
“I believe that sharing our stories and perspectives builds empathy and helps us to connect with each other and the world,” she commented. “I look forward to helping Los Alamos preserve our heritage and tell those stories.”
Martineau moved to Los Alamos in 1986 and soon developed her passion for community service, volunteering with numerous organizations, among them PEEC and the Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation, and serving on several boards. She has been the Creative District Curator, and in that role she collaborated with the Historical Society for ScienceFest and History on Tap.
Since coming to Los Alamos, Martineau has worked in education in a number of roles. She was a GATE teacher with LAPS during the past year and before that taught at Chamisa and Mountain Elementary Schools for 11 years. For the past two years she has been an instructional leader at Polaris School and has been the educational specialist for the MathAmuseum.
Between 2015 and 2017, Martineau was an educational specialist with Los Alamos National Laboratory, working at the Bradbury Science Museum in all aspects of their education programs, including Science on Wheels, field trips and special events. She also developed and implemented the Scientist Ambassador Academy program that teaches scientists strategies to communicate and engage with public audiences.
Martineau holds a BA from Kansas State University and a M.Ed. in instructional leadership from Northcentral University. She hopes to use all of her experience in her new job, adding that she feels “fortunate to live in this special place whose history is a unique weaving of science, art, math and politics”.
As to her outlook on the Society she will be leading, she says, “LAHS has a dedicated and knowledgeable staff and volunteers and a strong record of wise stewardship of donations, both artifacts and funds, so I am looking forward to joining this amazing team”.
