Micah Parzen is a nonprofit leader, anthropologist, and attorney. He has served as CEO of the Museum of Us (formerly the San Diego Museum of Man) since 2010, where he and his team are focused on developing better and better practices in what an anti-racist and decolonial museum can look like. One of Micah’s primary roles as CEO is share those practices in ways that create a positive ripple effect in the museum field and beyond. Micah was board chair of the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership – a collaboration of 28 arts & culture institutions in Balboa Park – from 2020 to 2024 and has also served on the boards of the Western Museums Association, San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program, La Jolla Country Day School, Waldorf School of San Diego, and ElderHelp of San Diego. He holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Case Western Reserve University, a J.D. from UC Davis, and a B.A. in Anthropology from UC Berkeley. Micah has published widely and is regularly asked to serve as a keynote speaker about the Museum of Us’ journey and its continued work.

Regina Bain is an artist and educator serving as the Executive Director of the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona, Queens. The Museum preserves the landmarked home and archives of this jazz icon, and develops programs grounded in the values of artistic excellence, education and community. Ms. Bain recently opened the new 14,000 sq. foot, 26 million-dollar, Armstrong Center, housing a multimedia exhibit curated by MacArthur Award-winner Jason Moran, a 75-seat performance space, and the 60,000-piece Armstrong Archives — the largest of any single jazz musician, about which she wrote a chapter in the Handbook of Black Librarianship, Third Edition.

Previous to her appointment at LAHM, Ms. Bain served as Associate Vice President of the Posse Foundation — a national leadership and college access program, where she supported Executive Directors in 10 cities, increased student graduation rates across the nation, led the staff training team, and facilitated large and small group dialogue on issues of identity and power. Bain is currently the co-chair of Culture @3’s anti-racism working group and recently served on the Yale Board of Governors. Ms. Bain has also performed as an actress on stage and screen with training at the Yale School of Drama. Currently, Ms. Bain is co-curating a multinational exhibition on Armstrong in Ghana and a digital experience on jazz and hip hop in Queens, New York.