Melissa Lara Castellon

Head of Executive Affairs

Melissa Castellon recently celebrated 23 years at the McNay having originally started her employment in the Director’s Office as Secretary, then over the years being promoted to Executive Assistant, Sr. Manager, and most recently to Head of Executive Affairs. Melissa’s career at the McNay exemplifies the support of the Museum to promote from within. As Head of Executive Affairs, Melissa serves as strategic advisor and counsel to the Board Executive Committee, Director, and Heads. She also oversees the Human Resources Department and manages the administrative needs of the Board of Trustees, Director, and Executive Affairs Department.

Melissa attended Texas Christian University on a music scholarship studying Music Education. She has over 30 years of administrative experience including ten years in the Dean’s Office at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. And while there, proudly served a term as President of SMU’s Staff Association.

Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband, Mike, their three dogs, and Facetiming with her 3 grandchildren – Christopher in Dallas, and Oliva and Luca in Odessa.

Her favorite work of art is Diego Rivera’s Delfina Flores. She noted that it reminds her of herself, her Mexican-American heritage, and her childhood in Brownsville, Texas, where children dress up for Charro Days (an annual festival celebrating the relationship between the two border cities of Brownsville and Matamoros, Mexico).