Leadership
Regina Turner
Founder & Executive Director
For the past 30+ years, Regina has had a history of community leadership in organizing and implementing conferences, workshops and international exhibits throughout New Mexico and in the Middle East. Dedicated to fostering a more compassionate, caring and responsible citizenry through education, Regina founded NMHRP as a means to bring unique and highly meaningful programs to New Mexico students and teachers. In July 2013, Regina was honored by Fidelity Investments as one of its Heroes in Education. In April 2012, she received the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award from FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, II. This award is presented annually to individuals or organization from the FBI’s 56 field offices honoring efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs and violence in America. She is also the recipient of numerous community awards including the prestigious Albuquerque Human Rights Bridge Award, the United Nations Association of Albuquerque Awards, the Anti Defamation League Education Award, the Albuquerque HERO Award and the NMCTE Friends of English Education Award. Regina was a 2006 recipient of the Governor’s Annual Outstanding New Mexico Women’s Award and the 2010 New Mexico Humanitarian Award.
Renée Firestone
Honorary Advisor Chair
Born in Czechoslovakia, Renée spent over a year in Auschwitz concentration camp. She is the founding lecturer for the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Educational Outreach Program. Renee speaks nationally and internationally about the Holocaust sharing her experience as a Holocaust survivor.
Philippa Schwendimann
Trustee
Philippa was born in London, England and educated in England, Italy and the U.S. A resident of Albuquerque, NM for the past 40 years, she has partnered in business, worked with museum art history, and as a paralegal for 12 years. An active participant in the Albuquerque community, she was a member of the NM Symphony Orchestra and Chorus for 30 years and is currently a member of the Music Guild of New Mexico. She has been an enthusiastic volunteer with NMHRP since 1995. As a trustee for NMHRP, she brings great insight to the organization because of her international background, her knowledge of history, and her respect for the diversity of cultures. She is passionate about the importance of providing opportunities to NM students that will inspire and encourage them to broaden their horizons and realize their full potential.
Jon Aronson
Trustee
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Johns Hopkins University in Environmental Policy, he followed graduate studies at Nietz International College in Bologna, Italy and received his MA from Indiana University. Jon is the assistant to a top executive of one of the world’s largest financial companies based in New York City.
Barend (Barry) van Driel
Curriculum Development
Since 2002 Barend (Barry) van Driel has served as Editor-in-Chief of the well-known academic journal Intercultural Education (Routledge) and currently is the Vice President of the International Association for Intercultural Education. Barry is responsible for international teacher education and curriculum development at the Anne Frank House, Amsterdam. In 2016 he became a team leader for a European Commission project focusing on Initial Teacher Education and how it prepares future teachers for working in diverse classrooms.
For more than two decades he has served as a consultant for UNESCO, FRA, ODIHR, OSCE field offices and the European Commission. This work has focused on intercultural education, social inclusion, active citizenship, youth empowerment, anti-bias education, peer education, human rights education, initial teacher education and Holocaust education.
Agenda
Media & Event Coordinator
Agenda is proud to be a part of New Mexico Human Rights Projects. A highly regarded and fully integrated strategic communications, public affairs and advertising firm, Agenda provides customized solutions to clients all across the globe. Agenda is also expert at blending proven grassroots techniques with stakeholder engagement, bilingual and multi-ethnic communications strategies, and innovative digital and social media campaigns.
