Omar recruits and manages 200+ interns and fellows who support a wide range of Museum projects. He promotes intern/fellows programs to colleges and universities and other institutions. Omar serves as the museum liaison for pre- and postdoctoral fellows as well as other academic appointments. In an effort to create awareness about internship and fellowship opportunities he conducts presentations to higher education communities, partners and various stakeholders with the purpose of increasing access to the Smithsonian.

Omar develops partnerships with educational institutions and non-governmental organizations to ‘build community’ around an inclusive American narrative. He was involved in creating a briefing paper on diversity and inclusion at the museum to the Director John Gray. Exercising his skills in outreach he assisted in the recruitment for Latino curators for the museum. In the spirit of collaboration and community building, Omar participates in the following committees ? NMAH Committees: Diversity Advisory Council; Peer Awards Committee; Strategic Planning Committee (Co-chair of Education Subcommittee); SI Committees: Latino Working Committee (Deputy Chair); Office of Fellowships & Internships Diversity Working Group; Federal Committee: STEM Education (Underrepresented Communities). His research interests are Afrolatinidad/Afrolatinoness in the United States; Hip Hop history, culture and education and Diversity and Inclusion. He is one of the organizers and the creator of the Smithsonian Career Center Conference.

Omar came to the Smithsonian from the National Park Service (NPS) where he worked as an Interpretive Park Ranger on youth programs and diversity initiatives. While he also worked at NPS he did a detail in the Office of the National Museum of the American Latino Commission. In addition, Omar has experience in STEM as an Education & Public Outreach Specialist for NASA. He also was a K-12 teacher in New York City and Washington DC. He has been married for 15 years and has four children. He has a BA in African American Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park and a M. Ed. from the American Intercontinental University. 

Omar Eaton-Martínez, M. Ed., Intern & Fellows Program Manager, Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, 202.633.3556, EatonMO [at] si.edu.