Museum Staff
Kris Jensen, Museum Director
(he/him)
Kris grew up immersed in a family of makers where his grandfather was a master woodworker, his grandmother a master weaver, and his father an interior designer as well as a respected folk artist. In his over 30 year career in the nonprofit sector, he has worked in a variety of senior leadership roles. Kris is a deeply passionate advocate for social justice, equity, and the arts and is excited to ensure that the Museum’s exhibition and community programming is approachable and reflective of San Jose’s cultural diversity.
Contact: kris@sj-mqt.org
Renata Blanco Gorbea, Assistant to the Director (she/her)
Renata Blanco Gorbea is an arts professional with experience in art galleries, museums, and arts journalism. She graduated from California College of the Arts with a degree in History of Art and Visual Culture. Throughout her studies she focused her research on the history of fashion, specializing in Mexican textiles and contemporary culture.
Contact: renata@sj-mqt.org
Anna Snyder, Visitor Services Representative
(she/her)
Anna Snyder completed her undergraduate degree in Studio Art and Art History in 2023 from Santa Clara University. She’s worked in gallery spaces in San Francisco and always values being immersed in the arts. She’s a trained oil painter who loves exploring the relationship between painting and textile, specifically intertwining hand-sewing and patchwork into her paintings. She’s studied in both Copenhagen and Barcelona, learning philosophy, life drawing, and printmaking.
Contact: anna@sj-mqt.org
Zachary Fernandez, Visitor Services Representative (he/him)
Zachary Fernandez is a student at San Jose State University earning his Bachelor's of Fine Arts with an emphasis on pictorial art. He comes from a Chicano and Irish-Indigenous family with a rich history in the city of San Jose; as an artist and lifelong resident of San Jose, he enjoys working with different types of artwork and engaging with the local community.
Contact: zachary@sj-mqt.org
Board of Directors
Greg Climer, Board Chair
Greg is a fashion designer and textile artist. He is currently the chair of the fashion program at California College of the Arts. He has worked on design teams ranging from the Victoria's Secret Runway Show to Karl Lagerfeld. His textile work has been shown in the Museum of Art and Design (NY), the deYoung Museum (SF), and the Museum of Craft and Design (SF), as well as the permanent collections of the Leslie Lohman Museum and at the SJMQT.
Jesse Penridge, Treasurer
Jesse is a veteran gallery director, advisor and independent curator. With much of his career spent in New York, he was active in many of the five boroughs nonprofit arts organizations. He is the principal at Alta Fine Art Advisory & Appraisals and a Certified member of the Appraisers Association of America, was a partner of Heroes Gallery and is a weaver.
Erin Algeo
Erin Algeo is a Costume Mounter for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. She is Former Curator of Historical Dress and Manager at Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles, she is known for her innovative exhibitions. After graduating from University of California at Berkeley in Art History and Art Practice, she earned an MFA from California College of the Arts. In 2018, she attained a Masters of Letters in Dress and Textile Histories at the University of Glasgow.
Lynne Born
Lynne Born is Chief Practice Officer for Aspiriant, one of the nation’s leading independent wealth management firms. She has more than 25 years of experience previously serving as CEO, Partner and President with high net worth accounting and wealth management firms. Lynne is certified by Harvard’s Executive Education in Leading Professional Services Firms and attended Northwestern University. Her mother was an award-winning quilter and soft sculpture artist, and Lynne is a mixed media fiber artist developing innovative techniques and working with themes of abstracted nature and women-centric textile art.
Sarah Mills
Sarah Mills is a textile historian and assistant professor of art history at San José State University. Her research focuses on art and design with textiles since 1900, in particular the studio craft movement, the fiber art movement, electronic textiles and playful wearables. She holds an M.Phil and PhD in Art History from the Graduate Center, City University of New York.
Laurie Yoon
Laurie Yoon is a civil litigation attorney representing individuals and businesses in a wide variety of matters. Her primary practice areas include personal injury, employment law, landlord/tenant, and business torts. She has been an active and long-standing volunteer in her community and with a local Parent Teacher Association, contributing over many years in a variety of leadership positions including president. She is an avid museum goer who enjoys visiting not only the world-renowned exhibitions in other parts of the world, but also exploring small, quaint local museums with unique character and charm.
