Meet the Team

Gorman spent his childhood in the rural Dakotas during the 1950s, which may not have been an ideal place to grow up for a queer child. However, it helped him to appreciate the beauty of the prairie and become more sensitive towards the emotional needs of others. He committed himself to reaching his full potential and inspiring others to do the same, which led him to pursue a career in education. Since 1985, he and his husband have lived in the Claremont Village, where he exhibits his work in several local venues.

In 1964, Betz immigrated to the United States from Germany. He is the son of Hans Dieter Betz, a world-renowned scholar and philosopher who established the Institute of Antiquity and Christianity at the Claremont Graduate University upon arriving in the US with his family. After graduating from Cal State Fullerton, Betz pursued his degree in experimental film and sculpture at Claremont Graduate University. During his graduate studies, his interest in exhibition design and installation grew, leading him to work in museums. Eventually, he became the Senior Curator at the Long Beach Museum of Art. In 2002, Betz and his wife, Eszter Delgado, an artist and videographer, moved to Hawaii with their young family of four. There, Betz served as the Director of the Hui No'eau Visual Art Center. Later, he was asked to come back to the mainland and establish a Cultural Arts Division with the City of Temecula. Betz also worked as the Director of Cultural Affairs for the City of Manhattan Beach, Executive Director of the NHRA Motorsports Museum, and the Mendocino Art Center.

Ingrid was born in Los Angeles and earned a B.S. in Interior Architecture from Woodbury University. She worked many years in the design field in New York and California. While living in Los Angeles during the civil unrest of 1992, Ingrid became involved with the city's Summer of Service program, where she collaborated on projects in the rebuilding and healing of south Los Angeles communities. She led bilingual programs in community art, gardens, tree plantings, and after school programs. The impact of the experience led to a career change to nonprofit administration. Ingrid has over 20 year's experience in the nonprofit sector. Her previous work experience includes the Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Claremont Heritage, the Sam & Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts & Crafts, and the San Bernardino County Museum Foundation.

An independent museum consultant with over twenty years’ work in the museum field, Rich Deely has worked as an educator in art, history, and science museums in New York, North Carolina, and California. Originally from New York City, Rich has BA degrees in both history and communications from the University of Notre Dame, and a Masters degree in Museum Education from Bank Street College of Education in Manhattan.

Gabriela Guzman is a museum associate at Claremont Lewis and loves learning and
appreciating all forms of art. She is currently studying studio art at the University of La Verne.
Gabriela is a mixed-media artist who concentrates on charcoal and acrylic works. Gabriela is
also studying education and pursuing a career in art education. She is passionate about art
expanding the knowledge of the arts, especially making it accessible to everyone. Gabriela
enjoys watching movies, creating art, traveling, and visiting art museums.

Britney Liang works as one of our Museum Associates. They are responsible for welcoming visitors and making them feel comfortable. Britney is an accomplished photographer and writer with a degree in Film and Media studies from the University of California - Irvine. They have a keen interest in art, history, and wildlife photography. Britney enjoys reading and traveling, and they are always on the lookout for new experiences and beautiful moments to capture.

Celina has a background in liberal studies and art history. Recently, she completed her degree in library and information science, with a specialization in archival studies. She is fluent in both English and Spanish,and is keenly interested in keeping up with current technology trends and their impact on information retrieval, preserving photographs, and learning new languages. During her free time, she enjoys going for morning jogs, reading, drinking coffee, trying out new pizza places, watching horror movies, and visiting museums.

Jesse is a native of Southern California. He has had a deep-rooted connection with art since his childhood, marked by frequent visits to museums with his family. He earned his BA in the History of Art from the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in a new branch of Art History known as Reception Studies. Jesse has been accepted into the Master’s Program in Museum Studies at San Francisco State University, which begins in August 2024.  Apart from his academic pursuits, Jesse serves as a writing tutor at Mt. San Antonio College, where he previously received his Associate of Arts Degree in Art History in 2020. He aspires to pursue further studies beyond SFSU, aiming to obtain a Ph.D. in Latinx Art. Ultimately, Jesse envisions himself working as a curator in Los Angeles.

Charlie Nwoye is a Museum Associate at the Claremont Lewis Museum of Arts. They joined this team to fully immerse themselves in the community and the world of art. Charlie is passionate about creating inclusive spaces where everyone can experience different mediums, as they understand the transformative power of gallery curation. Charlie earned their Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Illustration from California State University, Fullerton, and has an extensive background in various art projects, illustrative works, and gallery experience. Their artwork has been displayed in many local galleries, and they previously worked at Brea Gallery. Additionally, Charlie's artwork pertaining to self-identity was displayed at CSUF.

Alexandra Ofstedahl is the Senior Museum Associate at the Claremont Lewis Museum of Art. She has a bachelor's degree in art history and a master's degree in art business. Alexandra is passionate about the interplay of art and community and aspires to own her own gallery someday. She enjoys trying on dresses at Amelie, a family-owned clothing boutique located in the heart of Claremont. Alexandra's interests include fashion, film, books, and video games. She is fascinated by the numerous creative ways to express the complexity of human experience.

Doug is a versatile artist who specializes in various forms of art such as collage, mixed media, sculpture, printmaking, photography, assemblage, drums/percussion and cooking. He aspires to continue playing an active role in the vibrant art communities of Southern California. He loves to travel and has explored several countries, including Gambia, Guinea, Senegal, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Taiwan, France, Mexico and Canada. With a BA in Studio Art from UCSB and additional training from LACMA, FAWC, and Otis College, Doug has spent 19 years working in the Promotional Products Industry, primarily in sales and customer service. Prior to that, he has worked for manufacturing companies, including Pioneer Electronics. Doug is a people person and enjoys interacting with clients and the public.

Seth Pringle was born in 1981 in rural Ohio. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in ceramics from Ohio University and a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting from Claremont Graduate University. Currently, he holds the position of Associate Director of Exhibitions and Collections at the Claremont Lewis Museum of Art, where he serves as Lead Curator. Pringle's curatorial focus involves creating unexpected connections between works of art, which prompt viewers to see them in new and deeper ways. One of his important goals is to facilitate artists to realize their vision through collaboration. In addition to his curatorial work, Pringle is also a studio artist and an educator. He currently teaches drawing at Chaffey College as an Adjunct Professor of Art. With years of experience in teaching art to students of all ages, he also spent a significant amount of time advocating for and representing neurodiverse artists as Gallery Manager at First Street Gallery Art Center.

Xochilt Vargas grew up in Pomona and earned a BA in Communication Studies from CSU-Long Beach. After graduation, they gained valuable experience in media production and graphic design. Currently, Xochilt specializes in creating viral content through short-form videos and digital marketing for non-profit organizations in Los Angeles County. As a child, they had a passion for the arts and frequently visited Downtown Pomona Arts Colony and Claremont Village to explore their artistic interests. They consider themselves to be artistically inclined and use their creative abilities to enhance the world of digital marketing. Their ultimate goal is to incorporate the rich artistic heritage of Pomona Valley, the Inland Empire, and the West of Greater Los Angeles.

Thea became a part of the museum as a graduate student at Claremont Graduate University in 2022. After completing her degree, she joined the team as the Collection Database Archivist. She also took on the responsibility of managing Art Night Out, a monthly event. Thea transitioned to the non-profit sector after working for a few years as a photographer and digital retoucher. She is enthusiastic about fostering community engagement with the museum. When she's not working with art, Thea enjoys spending time watching movies and reading with her dog, Gidget.