About Us

Regina Turner  -  Founder and Executive Director

Regina has a long history of community leadership in organizing and implementing conferences, workshops and international exhibits throughout New Mexico and in the Middle East from 1980 to the present. 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. She is 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.

rENEE FIRESTONE - Honorary Advisory Chair

Born in Czechoslovakia, Renee  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. 

Fred W. Schwendimann -  Trustee

Fred is a retired member of the State Bar of New Mexico.  Prior to his retirement, he practiced law for thirty-five years, primarily in the areas of taxation, estates and trusts.  From time to time, he has counseled and advised tax-exempt organizations in connection with their status under federal and state law.  He currently serves as a Trustee of the New Mexico Human Rights Projects.

JON ARONSON -   Trustee

Jon is a trustee for NMHRP.  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.

Krista Kozel -  Curriculum Development

Krista received her M.A. in communications from the University of New Mexico. She is a dynamic community college instructor at Dona Ana Community College in Las Cruces, New Mexico and has developed an intercultural curriculum for youth from over 27 different countries.

Paula Bowker -Media and Events Coordinator

Paula works with NMHRP promoting its school and community programs through the media, event coordinating and fundraising. Her experience includes working on grassroots campaigns and non-profit fundraising. She assisted with the successful outcome of the Anne Frank: A History for Today Exhibition which NMHRP brought for a third time to New Mexico in February-March 2010. She graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2007 and is currently an associate at DW Turner.