Omar A. Eaton

Omar is currently a PhD student. He earned a BA in African American Studies from the University of Maryland and an M.Ed from American Intercontinental University. His research interests are Afro Latinx identity as well as Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion in museums and cultural institutions. Omar recruits and manages 200+ interns and fellows at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. He participates on committees that focus on inclusion and advocacy for professionals of color at the Smithsonian. He has worked at the National Park Service, the Office of the National Museum of the American Latino Commission, NASA and was a K-12 teacher in New York City and Washington, DC. Externally, he has board membership for Museum Hue (National Board Chair) and the Museums and Race Steering Committee. Additionally, he participates in sector-wide initiatives like MASS Action (Museums as a Site For Social Action), AAM’s DEAI Working Group, AASLH’s Diversity & Inclusion Taskforce and Leadership Nominating Committee, and has served on the National Program Committees for AAM and AAAM national conferences. Omar has published in the Nov/Dec 2017 issue of Museum magazine titled “Truth and Reconciliation: Museums as Advocates for Human Rights and Healing” and the Spring 2017 issue of History News titled “Calling Out Afro Latinx Identity.”