Meet the Team

Candice has proudly called Bastrop home for many years, raising her family amid the charm and history of the community she loves. With a wealth of experience in historical museums, cultural organizations, and civic institutions, she brings both passion and professionalism to everything she does. Her deep knowledge, warm personality, and commitment to preserving local heritage make her an invaluable part of the museum team.

Heather brings to her position an interdisciplinary background and set of diverse experiences, including three years of collections management in both museum and academic settings, facilitation of moving and reorganizing large collections, and development of object-based educational projects connecting rural culture, environmental science, and knowledge preservation. Prior to these experiences, Heather served in the U.S. Peace Corps in Paraguay, where, when not dueling with roosters in her bed, she had the honor of developing a variety of youth-based educational programs and related community exhibitions.
 
Heather received advanced degrees in History and Spanish from Bowling Green State University. When not playing with artifacts, she enjoys primitive camping, kayaking, and traveling. She lives in Bastrop, Texas with her two very precocious Paraguayan cats.

Traci is from Nebraska and took the scenic route to Bastrop via Kansas, Iowa, New Jersey, Korea, Venezuela, Louisiana, Indonesia, and California.  She has worked for the states of Texas and Louisiana, for a Dept. of Defense/NASA-funded research/database project, GE Medical, the VA Medical Center in Houston, the UT-Austin Library, and Del Taco.  Most recently, she did a little jail time (photo op only) as a volunteer at the Rosenberg, TX, Police Department. She and her husband reside in Bastrop with a yard full of leaf-cutter ants, moles, and deer.

Relocating to Bastrop in 2011 from New Jersey with her husband, daughter and Brazilian niece, Gloria started volunteering when the Visitor Center moved into its new facilities on Main Street. With a professional background in non-profit administration in metro-New York and a love of history, it was a natural fit for her. She brings a wide range of experience from leadership position opportunities serving The Museum of Early Trades and Crafts, Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, The Valerie Fund, The Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation (The Charles A. Lindbergh Fund), and the State of Florida Department of Health. Gloria is a proud alumnae of Florida State University and Duke University. She is a member of the B.E.S.T Leadership Program and a Certified Tourism Executive (CTE) candidate through the Texas Travel Alliance. Gloria is also a longtime organic gardener.

Born in Hallettsville, Texas, Barbara received a B.A. in History from Lamar University and taught Texas History for 31 years in the Spring Branch Independent School District.  Barbara and her husband, Alex, retired to Bastrop in 2001.  She has been with the Museum for 19 years, responsible for museum operations including accounting functions, museum and bus tours, general correspondence, press releases, quarterly meetings, and preparing the membership newsletter.

Rachel takes care of the Social Media and Public Relations side of the museum and anything else that's needed! Born in Utah and raised in New Mexico, Rachel's journey led her to Texas straight out of college, and she has called the Lonestar State her home ever since! A former History and English teacher, Rachel has a passion for historical education and loves being creative, making this position her dream job. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and running. Rachel's favorite season in Texas is Spring, when she can bask in the beauty of bluebonnets and enjoy the pleasant weather. A proud Texas Longhorn (Hook'em) and BYU Cougar (Go Cougs!), she is excited to be on the Bastrop Museum team!