AURORA, CO, December 15, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Samantha Hunt-Duran has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mrs. Hunt-Duran has established herself as a leading expert in collection preservation, demonstrating over a decade of professional experience and a commitment to advancing the museum sector. As Owner & Founder of Mountain Museum Management LLC since 2023, she manages all aspects of the organization, ensuring compliance with the Secretary of State, overseeing staff and contractors, directing daily operations and providing specialized consulting services for a wide array of clients, from private clients to large federal museums. Her leadership reflects her dedication to redefining success within the industry, emphasizing the value of business ownership and alternative career paths beyond traditional institutional roles.

Prior to launching her own company, Mrs. Hunt-Duran served as a Conservation & Collections Associate at Pacific Coast Conservation from 2019 to 2023. In this capacity, she contributed her expertise to the preservation and care of diverse collections, further honing her skills in preventive conservation practices. Concurrently, she was Vice President of the Cultural Council in Commerce City from 2019 to 2021, where she played a pivotal role in promoting cultural initiatives and supporting community engagement with the arts.

For the preceding two years, Mrs. Hunt-Duran worked as a Conservation Assistant at the Denver Art Museum, where she supported conservation projects and contributed to the preservation of significant artworks. In 2018, she was also the first President and a Founding board member of the Art History and Anthropology Group, demonstrating her commitment to fostering academic collaboration and professional development within her field.

Mrs. Hunt-Duran's early career included several formative apprenticeships that provided hands-on experience in various aspects of art conservation. She was a paintings conservation intern at Kuniej Berry LLC from 2015 to 2016, followed by roles as paper conservation intern at Beth Heller Conservation LLC, archives processing assistant at University of Denver Library Archives, regional liaison for the Emerging Conservation Professionals Network and paintings conservation intern at Clyfford Still Museum—all during 2014 to 2015. In 2014, she also completed an outdoor sculpture conservation internship at the Denver Art Museum.

Mrs. Hunt-Duran's foundational experiences began in 2013 with two apprenticeships at Studio Art Centers International in Florence: one focused on archaeological artifacts conservation and another on paintings conservation. These early opportunities solidified her passion for preservation and set the stage for her future achievements.

Educationally, Ms. Hunt-Duran's background is distinguished by a master's degree in art history with a concentration in museum studies from the University of Denver in 2018 and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in pre-art conservation from the same school in 2015. She further enhanced her technical expertise with a certificate in painting and archaeological conservation from Studio Arts College International in Florence in 2013 and a certificate in polarized light microscopy: pigment identification from Hooke College of Applied Sciences.

Throughout her educational journey, Mrs. Hunt-Duran was motivated by both opportunity and challenge. Early employment in museums revealed systemic issues, such as limited funding and concerns about employee treatment within institutions. This experience inspired her to pursue an external support role for museums—one that would allow her to advocate for change while still contributing meaningfully to the field.

Reflecting on her career, Mrs. Hunt-Duran attributes her success to courage and perseverance. Rather than following conventional routes within the museum sector, she chose to forge her own path—an approach that has enabled her to make significant contributions while championing new perspectives on professional achievement.

In addition to her professional endeavors, Mrs. Hunt-Duran is actively engaged with civic organizations. Since 2024, she has served on the Board of Directors for the Association of Registrars and Collections Specialists. Earlier roles include teaching English at The Agnesi School in Florence in 2013 and serving as an English language tour guide for Ars et Fides that same year. Her artistic talents extend beyond museums; she has performed as a concertmaster violinist with the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra.

Mrs. Hunt-Duran is also dedicated to public education about museum work through creative projects, such as "Museum Backstage," a podcast she launched featuring authentic conversations with professionals across the industry. The series explores behind-the-scenes challenges, innovative solutions and future directions for museums. She teaches collections preservation and management courses for the Northern States Conservation Center and coaches students through their conservation treatment capstone projects at the University of Denver.

Mrs. Hunt-Duran believes her specialized industry is often underfunded, with many organizations experiencing increasing strain amid reductions in federal support. In her view, the cultural sector remains vital to society and its preservation depends on committed and courageous professionals who continue to advocate for its value and long-term sustainability.

Outside her career, Mrs. Hunt-Duran enjoys playing violin, designing and sewing clothing and hiking in her free time. Looking ahead, she intends to expand her business internationally to raise awareness about collection preservation among broader audiences while continuing advocacy efforts for diversity, equity and inclusion—particularly supporting community-based curation and preservation as an alternative to the traditional museum model.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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