2026 Board of Director Candidates

Nicole Dzenowski Office of President for the 2026 AMMP Board of Directors Election

Background

Hi, friends! I’m the Paleontology Lab Manager at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul, where I spend most of my time in the lab managing a wonderful group of volunteers and working on projects spanning the Precambrian to (nearly) now. I’ve been here for 6 years but have over 15 years of experience in paleontology, including time as a grad student and with the National Park Service. When I’m not elbow-deep in paleontology, I’m usually killing houseplants, shooting zombies, or watching my cats roll in the dirt and climb trees.

Reason for running

I care deeply about this field and the community of people who make it possible. In its nearly 20 years, AMMP has played an important role in shaping paleontology. Not just by drawing people in, but by helping define what it means to be a professional in this work and by giving recognition to roles that have historically gone unseen. I’ve been a member for 7 years, and I credit this organization and the people in it for much of my growth and success as a preparator and I’d love the opportunity to give back.

I also recognize that we’re facing real challenges around participation, engagement, and long-term sustainability. As a small and specialized field, those challenges may only become more pronounced in the coming years. I believe that makes it even more important to invest in maintaining and growing a strong, connected community.

In my time as the lab manager at the Science Museum of Minnesota, I’ve had the opportunity to become involved in organizing efforts within my workplace and broader community. That work has shaped how I think about building sustainable, engaged groups—ones where people feel welcomed, supported, and motivated to participate. I think there’s real value in bringing that lens into AMMP.

Mindy Householder for Office of Secretary for the 2026 AMMP Board of Directors Election

Background

My name is Mindy Householder, and I have over 20 years of fossil preparation experience working at various institutions such as the Burpee Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Geology at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. I also served as Chief Preparator at Badlands National Park and helped design and construct the viewable fossil preparation lab. Currently, I prepare fossils for the North Dakota Geological Survey and spend much of my time preparing archosaurian vertebrate fossils with extensive dermal tissue preservation, particularly the dinosaurian fossilized mummy “Dakota” that preserves both dermal and epithelial tissues. I am also researching the long-term impact of different consolidants on paleontological specimens using pXRF analysis to help inform best practices for our field.

Reason for Running

I believe in a science-based approach to fossil preparation and would love to help AMMP continue to embrace this idea. As Secretary, I would also bring my strong advocacy for documentation to the table. I am currently serving my second term as Secretary to another non-profit organization where I enjoy the task of being the organization’s voice and memory. I hope to be able to share that enthusiasm with AMMP as well.

Jean-Pierre Cavigelli for Office of Member-at-large 1 for the 2026 AMMP Board of Directors Election

Background

JP Cavigelli has been Prep Lab Manager and Field Trip Organizer and Collections Manager at that Tate Geological Museum at Casper College since 2004.  He has been in charge of many field outings and the preparation of many fossil vertebrates from a mammoth and a T rex to micro-mammal teeth.  Before this he spent two years as Collections Manager at the University of Wyoming where he designed the database he still uses.  JP has also been doing freelance fossil preparation in his private lab for private collectors and academic paleontologists.  He has had the good fortune of having been invited to join paleontological expeditions to Mongolia, Niger, Tanzania, Alaska and North Dakota.  When he is not involved with fossils JP enjoys birdwatching, traveling, and hanging out with his supercalifragilisticexpialidocious wife (and has recently hung up his skates after a 30-year hockey career).

Reason for Running

My name is Jean-Pierre Cavigelli, aka JP. I have been involved with AMMP since before it was AMMP.  The Tate Museum hosted the second annual Fossil Preparation and Collections Symposium in 2009. After a few of these meetings, the outfit organized and became AMMP. I am running for Member-at-Large because I have enjoyed seeing this outfit become more organized and I would like to be there as it moves forward. I don’t have any great plans for the next steps, rather I think that evolution will be more organic. Having said that, I strongly believe that acknowledging preparators and techniques used in scientific publications is important.  I have been a Member-At-Large for the past two years and am running for re-election. 

Alex Gardner for Office of Member-at-large 1 for the 2026 AMMP Board of Directors Election

Background

Hello! I’m a paleontologist for the North Dakota Geological Survey. My job is threefold: work in the fossil preparation lab, handle outreach events, and manage the public fossil digs. I got my start learning fossil preparation techniques in 2012 through the Burpee Museum of Natural History. I’ve previously worked with Wind Cave and Badlands National Parks, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, and the Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, SD. 

Reason for Running

I’ve been an AMMP member since 2023, and I’d really like to be more involved in the organization. I like being able to lend a hand where possible, and I’d be able to do just that as Member at Large. I look forward to being able to give back to AMMP!

Evan Tamez-Galvan for Office of Member-at-large 1 for the 2026 AMMP Board of Directors Election

Background

Hi! My name is Evan Tamez-Galvan and I work at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS). I studied at Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA and earned my B.S. in Geology with a minor in biology. I began working in preparation labs during college and I fell in love with preparing fossils. After interning in the DMNS’ Earth Science prep lab, I briefly worked at the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research before making my way back to DMNS three years ago. I began my career at DMNS overseeing an IMLS project which consisted of preparing, surface scanning, and housing over 500 Jurassic sauropod fossils from Wyoming and Colorado with our incredible team of staff, interns, and volunteers. After completing that project I’ve taken on the monumental task of preparing a complete Triceratops skull (nicknamed Dreams) and associated postcranial material. When I’m not prepping, I work with Latines en el Museo, an Employee Resource Group at DMNS, which is dedicated to making Latine employees in the museum feel heard, empowered, and celebrated by hosting a variety of events throughout the year. Outside of being a preparator I enjoy dancing in two ballet folklórico groups, bouldering all the V0’s (beginner grade) in my climbing gym, napping with my elderly cat, and working on my latest embroidery project.

Reason for Running

I’m running for Member at Large 1 because I want to stand up for and represent the best interests of the membership in front of the Board of Directors. Members are the beating heart of AMMP and they deserve to have a strong representative at Board meetings. While I have enjoyed being an AMMP member for the past three years, I believe there is always room for improvement and I plan on making full use of every member’s unique wealth of knowledge and strengths to keep our association vibrant, connected, and at the forefront of scientific discovery.

Vicki Yarborough for Office of Member-at-large 1 for the 2026 AMMP Board of Directors Election

Background

Hi, I’m Vicki Yarborough, (Paleobiology Lab Manager at Virginia Tech) running for the position of Member at Large 1. I’ve attended Association for Materials and Methods in Paleontology conferences for many years and presented posters and talks. In my career as a preparator I’ve been fortunate enough to work on amphibians, dinosaurs, fish, mammals, reptiles, and some invertebrate, and insect specimens. One area of concentration has been archival housings and micropreparation. There is more to learn and that’s just one of things I appreciate about this association. The workshops, talks, and posters open up new possibilities.

 

Reason for Running

My previous service was working on the Awards Committee for two years and I would like to give back to the Society by serving as Member at Large 1. I think that my experience working at nine different institutions as well as attending the conferences has given me a better understanding of our goals to conserve our specimens and be the best professionals we can be. If elected, I’ll act as a liaison between the members and the Board as well as helping in any capacity as needed.

Thanks for your time! Vicki