Michelle Tovar

Dr. Michelle Tovar is the Director of Education at the Center for African American Military History, Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, in Houston, Texas. In this role, she is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating museum education programs for diverse audiences and expanding the museum's engagement with the public, educators, and students. Dr. Tovar's goal is to build authentic partnerships with local and national organizations dedicated to education, social justice, and history. She is an advocate for BIPOC representation in formal and informal learning environments. Previously, Dr. Tovar was the Associate Director of Education–Latino Initiatives and the Director of Public Engagement for Holocaust Museum Houston. She is a Smithsonian Latino Museum Studies alum, a Fulbright-Hays scholar, and a former Houston Coalition Against Hate board member. In 2020, Dr. Tovar was awarded the American Alliance of Museums EdCom Award for Excellence in Practice. She is also contributing a forthcoming book chapter in The Barrio and the Badge: A History of Latinos and Law Enforcement in Houston (University of Oklahoma Press, 2026), exploring the experiences of Chicanos and the Black Lives Matter movement.