Josef Diaz is the curator of History and Material Culture at the Nevada State Museum. “My work at the Nevada State Museum is to contribute to the understanding, appreciation and interpretation of the history of Nevada and the Southwest.” Learn about Josef Diaz…
Hometown: Santa Barbara, California
First job: I worked at the Italian and Greek deli while a senior in high school and part of college in Santa Barbara. It was owned by a wonderful Italian family from Italy that I am still friends with. It taught me how to be fast and efficient in the kitchen and of the foods from those countries.
Favorite ways to spend your free time in NV: I am new to Las Vegas, so every day is an adventure! I do love the fact that I can walk half a block to the Smith Center for Performing Arts. They have a wonderful symphony that I enjoy hearing perform as well as the cabaret shows. When the weather is nice, I love to travel to the mountains to hike and bird watch.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: Besides my graduate degree and being a part of a team that helped built the New Mexico History Museum – I would have to say my exhibition; Fractured Faiths: Spanish Judaism, The Inquisition, and New World Identities. It was a tour de force that involved researching 250 artifacts, orchestrating the loans of artworks from five countries, organizing them in an exhibition and producing a catalogue to accompany the show.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: I haven’t had to overcome any huge obstacles yet in my life. I am lucky enough to be healthy, and to somehow thrive in most things I do. I know that some obstacles will someday come, both in my personal and professional life. I hope to be ready to face them when they do.
Someone who inspires you and why: My father. He was a single parent who raised me and my sister. He is a pillar of integrity, dedication and kindness. I strive to be like him.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Get your foot in the door early. The best way is to do an internship while you are in graduate school. Work hard and prove yourself.
Favorite quote: “What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create”
― Anonymous
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I have published four books and working on my fifth publication.
What makes someone fabulous: Kindness.