Richard Melzer, Ph.D., is a retired history professor who taught at The University of New Mexico–Valencia campus for more than 35 years. He has served on the board of directors of the Valencia County Historical Society for 30 years; he has served as the society’s president several times. He has written many books and articles about New Mexico history, including many works on Valencia County, his favorite topic.

John M. Taylor retired as the Manager of the Integrated Technologies and Systems Strategic Management Group Support Department at Sandia National Laboratories. He has published numerous articles in various books and journals on Civil War, Catholic history, railroad history, and other topics. 

Sandy Schauer was born in New Jersey and moved to New Mexico in the late 1960s to attend the University of New Mexico. After graduating she embarked on a career in journalism that impelled her to write about and help preserve history of Valencia County.

Roberta Scott was born in raised in Southern New Mexico. She attended New Mexico State University at Las Cruces obtaining a Masters in Business Administration. She serves on the Historical Society of New Mexico Board as Treasurer and has presented on many topics such as women's suffragists, quilting and more. 

Louis F. Huning, Jr. was born and raised in Valencia County with family ties in both Los Lunas and Belen. He has a Bachelors of History from the University of New Mexico and loves New Mexico, World War II and Civil War history. He is currently employed as the Museum Specialist at the Los Lunas Museum of Heritage & Arts. 

Donna Pedace’s business career included management positions in large and small businesses before she moved into the non-profit world. She served as the Executive Director of the Spanish Colonial Art Society and Museum in Santa Fe, Eugene O’Neill Theater and Museum in Connecticut, and the National Director of OASIS, a nationwide educational program. 

Several years ago, she created a private museum for a businessman which featured exhibits telling the stories of individuals who had a significant impact on New Mexico’s history following the arrival of the first Spanish expeditions. While researching those subjects, she discovered many extraordinary but little-known women of the Old West period who she felt deserved more recognition. Her book, “Scandalous Women of the Old West: Women Who Dared to be Different,” is her tribute to ten of these amazing women. 

Kathleen Pickering has been the director at the Belen Public Library and Harvey House Museum since 2018. She was born in Washington, D.C., was a professor emerita in anthropology at Colorado State University, has a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a juris doctorate from the New York University School of Law, and a bachelor’s degree in history from the College of William & Mary in Virginia. 

Board Member

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Cynthia Johnson Shetter, is the director of the Los Lunas Public Library and its branch library, the Museum of Heritage & Arts. Since opening the Museum in 2008, she and her staff have collected several oral histories, artifacts and photographs that are helping preserve the cultural history of Valencia County and New Mexico. Although Cynthia has lived in Los Lunas for the past 38 years, she grew up on a ranch on the Jornado Del Muerto near Engle, New Mexico. As a 5th generation rancher to that area, her family and life experiences have given her a unique perspective and passion for the history, people and heritage of New Mexico.

Stephanie" Zuni is the Director of the Department of Cultural & Historic Preservation at Isleta Pueblo. She is a third generation potter, on her mother's side, who was born, raised, and is presently residing at Isleta Pueblo, NM. In 2011, she helped develop the Time Exposures: Picturing a History of Isleta Pueblo in the 19th Century that traveled around the world and is on display at the Cultural Center at Isleta.