“I was brought up in a family that holds cultural experiences of all kinds in very high esteem. I had consistent exposure to things like ballet, theater, visual arts and live music,  so I had a strong appreciation of various forms of art from a very early age. In college, influential professors opened my eyes to both contemporary and classical art, which inspired my museum career. During my time at NYU, I interned at the Guggenheim Museum and, for the first time, realized that I could make a career out of doing what I love.  Since then I have worked mostly in museums but also as a grant maker in the arts. That multi-dimensional and national experience has helped me progress to where I am today. It’s important to know as many aspects of your field as possible; having a broad overview gives you a bigger vision for what is possible. Thinking big is important.” –Amada Cruz, Sybil Harrington Director, Phoenix Art Museum