Karla Hostetler has served as the Executive Director of the Mariposa Museum & World Culture Center since 2012. Prior to this, she worked for 18 years as a director of initiatives and consultant strategist for numerous organizations in the international development sector. These included, from 2003-2012, founding and directing Resortful Arts, an Antigua-based NGO working in collaboration with the Organization of American States, the Caribbean Hotel Association, Thomas Cooke’s Travel Foundation, Aid to Artisans, and businesses on six Eastern Caribbean islands.
From 1997-2002 she served as Chief of Party for Aid to Artisans program with USAID in Haiti; and from 1995 – 1997 as Regional Director for Aid to Artisans and Counterpart International in Central Asia, serving museums and arts and craft organizations along the ancient Silk Road in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. She has consulted with the World Bank in Ethiopia, with UNESCO in the Gaza and the West Bank, with Counterpart in Egypt, Aid to Artisans in Russia, Guatemala, Ghana, and Koios Associates in Cameroon. A graduate of Colby College, Karla did her graduate work (Masters of Intercultural Management) at World Learning’s School for International Training. She has a Graduate Certificate in Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Management from Georgetown University.
Tina Thaing, Administrator
Tina Thaing began working at the Mariposa in 2005 while still a student at ConVal High School in Peterborough. Serving as Administrative Assistant as she completed her degree in back office management, she was promoted to Administrator in 2015. Tina’s family is Cambodian and she brings her understanding of Southeast Asia as well as her bilingualism and cultural competency to Mariposa exhibits and educational programs.
Caroline Hunter, Manager/Community Engagement Manager, Oak Bluffs
Founder and director of the Inkwell Polar Bears on Martha's Vineyard, Caroline is an internationally-known activist and educator, becoming (with husband Ken Williams) the first American employees to launch a campaign challenging their employer (Polaroid Corp.) to divest from South Africa. With an M.Ed from Harvard's Graduate School of Education, she has taught science and math at the secondary level in the Boston area and served as assistant principal of the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School.
Among other awards and distinctions, she received the 2012 Rosa Parks Memorial Award from the National Education Association for her work leading to sanctions against apartheid in South Africa.
Catherine Gomes, Reception/Operations, Oak Bluffs
Catherine is an intuitive and youth and arts activist, who also brings extensive retail management and customer service experience to the Mariposa from her work with Nordstrom's in North Carolina, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
Britta Perez, Communications Manager
Britta is an artist and writer who loves immersing herself into new cultures and learning all there is to know about the world around her.
Pashya White, Gift Shop/Merchandiser, Peterborough
Martha Collins, Volunteer Coordinator
Ruth Cassidy, Assistant, Peterborough