Board of Directors
JOHN B. O’SULLIVAN, President
Home: Pacific Grove
Background: Growing up, John was fascinated with California’s marine life. From the tide pools to the open ocean, invertebrates, sharks, rays, bony fishes, marine mammals, and sea birds captured his attention. Today, John has been collecting marine animals and conducting field and captive research for more than 41 years. He began his career as a volunteer at Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s (SIO) Aquarium, collecting specimens for public display and education. Next, he moved into SIO’s Marine Biology Research Division as a volunteer and as a technician with the Sea Grant Program. In 1986, he joined the staff at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. John enjoys the blending of his collecting responsibilities with captive and field research that includes a wide variety of species that live along the eastern Pacific, including the Gulf of California, Mexico.
ALAN ARVIN, Vice President
Home: San Luis Obispo
Background: After earning his master’s degree in his home state of Kentucky, Alan began his career in Pennsylvania as a systems engineer—specifically in robotics and vision systems applied to high-volume manufacturing—at American Cimflex. He then moved to California to join the West Coast’s growing tech industry as a systems engineer at SUN Microsystems and Director of IT at Trimble Navigation. Alan leveraged his experience as a consultant for emerging companies and eventually co-founded two tech-consulting companies that were later acquired: The Trilliance Group and Demand Solutions Group, now a part of Oracle.
After 30 years in tech, Alan shifted his efforts to marine conservation and community engagement around environmental protection, a passion that blossomed over his years spent on the central coast of California. Between his home on the California central coast and the high desert of New Mexico, Alan volunteers his time with environmental organizations that strive to educate and conserve natural beauty and habitats, from the desert to the sea.
SEAN POWELL, Treasurer
Home: Pacific Grove
Degrees: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, California State University, Monterey Bay
Background: Sean was born and raised on the Monterey Peninsula having lived in Pacific Grove for the last ten years. He remembers coming to the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History as a student and again with his own children years later. Sean is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) that has worked in a local CPA firm for the last five years with an increasing emphasis on non-profits. Having enjoyed the museum and the beautiful outdoors that the central coast has to offer, he appreciates the education and value the Museum provides to the community and is grateful to be a member of the board.
MATTHEW DENECOUR, Secretary
Home: Pacific Grove
Degrees: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo; Master of Education, Framingham State University (Massachusetts)
Background: Matt’s love of museums probably stems from childhood trips to the Field Museum, and the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. More recently, he has been a volunteer at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and now at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History as a monarch docent. As a retired educator, Matt loves how museums can spark a child’s interest and inspire a love of life-long learning. He is grateful to serve on the board and believes that the building and collections are just a part of what the PGMNH is, and that the education and citizen-science functions carried out by the staff and volunteers vastly expands the museum’s impact in the community.
ALEXIS BUNTEN
Home: Del Rey Oaks
Degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Art History, Dartmouth College; PhD in Cultural Anthropology, UCLA
Background: After receiving her BA, Alexis returned to Alaska, where she worked at the Sealaska Heritage Institute, and the Alaska Native Heritage Center in programming. Subsequent to receiving her PhD, Alexis served as the Project Ethnographer for the Intellectual Property Issues in Cultural Heritage (IPinCH) project, and as a Senior Researcher at the FrameWorks Institute.
Alexis is an accomplished researcher, writer, media-maker, and curriculum developer. She has published widely about Indigenous and environmental issues, with articles in American Indian Quarterly, the Journal of Museum Education and American Ethnologist. Her 2015 book, “So, how long have you been Native?” Life as an Alaska Native Tour Guide” won the Alaska Library Association Award for its originality, and depth. In addition to writing, Alexis has contributed to several Indigenous-themed productions, including co-producing and writing the script for a documentary nominated for the Native American Film Awards. Alexis has developed educational material for both formal and informal learning environments including university level-courses as well as lifelong learner curriculum.
WALAN CHANG
Home: Marina
Degrees: Bachelor of Science in with an emphasis on East Asia, University of the State of New York; Master of Science in Applied Marine & Watershed Science, California State University Monterey Bay
Background: Walan grew up in Texas and joined the Air Force soon after high school. Initially a Financial Specialist, she soon switched paths and came to the Defense Language Institute. Walan would eventually return to attend the Naval Postgraduate School, and then deploy to Iraq. When she retired, she returned to Monterey. Walan now serves on multiple committees in the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, including as the Co-Chair of the Veteran and Family Advisory Committee. She is also a kitten foster parent for South County Animal Rescue and manages its Adoption Center. Walan fell in love with the underwater world when she obtained her scuba diving certification in the mid-1990s. After retiring from the military, she decided to return to school and earn her degree in applied marine and watershed science. During her studies, she worked on research projects at CSUMB, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Walan wants to increase science literacy and stewardship through outreach and education efforts and creating an environment that is welcoming to traditionally underserved communities.
JOAN CLAY
Home: Monterey
Background: Joan retired in 2014 after serving for thirteen years as the Director of Finance for The SPCA for Monterey County. She is currently in her twenty-first year as a volunteer Guide at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Joan’s business career has been dedicated to supporting non-profit organizations here in California and previously on the East Coast. Joan’s love of nature and commitment to non-profit organizations illustrate her belief that these organizations are vital to our community. Joan is passionate about the mission of enriching and educating guests and learners of all ages.
OLIVIA DUARTE
Home: Carmel, CA
Degrees: BA in Art History from UCLA and MA in Arts Education from Columbia University
Background: Olivia is an expert on creative content and branding and is currently the Director of Corporate Communications for Canon Medical Systems USA. Her expertise comes via a rich background in marketing, having previously worked as the Head of Marketing and Communications at Advanced Bionics and with the marketing department at Nestle USA. She is passionate about museums and their impact on inspiring people to get excited about history and the natural world and is currently a member of PGMNH’s Standards & Practices committee.
JAZMINE MEJIA-MUÑOZ
Home: California Central Coast
Degrees: Master of Science in Environmental Science, California State University, Monterey Bay;
Bachelors of Science in Biology, California State University, Bakersfield;
Ms. Mejia-Muñoz is a first generation, Hispanic, environmental science professional. Although she was raised in the Monterey Bay Area, it was through the educational programs offered during her early years that she was exposed to the ocean and the natural systems of the region. The educational exposure helped her define her true passion in life, environmental conservation.
Now, she stands out as an accomplished young professional within the unique nexus of agricultural land, watershed, and marine systems. She currently serves the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation on detail for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
As a proactive community member, Ms. Mejia-Muñoz is a mentor for the Farming, Agriculture, and Resources Management for Sustainability Leadership Program, and a committee member for the My Job Depends on Ag State Scholarship. Ms. Mejia-Muñoz joined the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History’s Board of Directors in February 2023. As a board member she joins a team that helps steer the organization towards a sustainable future and supports the vital role of the museum in connecting the public with California’s Central Coast rich and diverse flora, fauna, and history.
ERIN MYERS MADEIRA
Home: Pacific Grove
Degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Geography from Dartmouth College, and a MESM in Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Background: For Erin, museums play an important role in defining a place; they tell the story of what has come before and set the trajectory for where we are headed. In this way, museums are as much about the people they convene, the conversations they catalyze, and the programs they run in the community as they are about the collection. Erin is the co-director of The Nature Conservancy’s global program on Conservation in Partnership with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. Her family's roots are in coastal Maine.
EMERITUS BOARD MEMBER: TAMA OLVER
Home: Pacific Grove
Background: Tama was raised near Washington, D.C. and experienced the wonder museums can instill in children as well as the expanded horizons of time and space they provide people of all ages. After retiring to live in Pacific Grove, she volunteered at the Museum and served on the city's museum board for five years. She brings not only experience as a business leader and member of other not-for-profit boards, but also a deep appreciation of the value the Museum creates for the community it serves. Upon retiring from the Board Tama was awarded the first Emeritus Board seat in the Museum’s history for her dedication and commitment to the Museum and its mission.