MISSION STATEMENT
“The Tom Lea Institute was created to engender an appreciation of the art, character, and legacy of Tom Lea. It is committed to educating students and the public about Tom Lea’s relevance to history, art, and literature. Through curricula, public programs, exhibits, and publications, the Institute shares Lea’s legacy in order to inspire present and future generations.”
TOM LEA INSTITUTE STAFF
Reach us at 915-533-0048. Office hours are 7:00 AM-4:00 PM M-F.
Executive Director
Holly P. Cobb
Hello, I’m Holly Cobb. With a master’s degree from UC Berkeley, I embarked on a career that began with leading an English as a Second Language program, where I enjoyed the diverse nationalities of the students. My path then took me to a role as Vice President of Human Resources of a national retailer, followed by founding a nationwide consulting firm and hosting a TV series. Now, I’m proud to bring my experiences to TLI.
Office Administrator
Corine Navarro
Hello, my name is Corine Navarro. I was born and raised here in El Paso. It is a great city to grow up in. I had two children, and I have three grandchildren. I have three dogs that I love like my family. Some of my hobbies are working out at the gym, hiking, archery, and I also enjoy mountain biking, bowling, playing pool, and riding motorcycles.
Lily Minton
Hello, my name is Lily Minton, and I serve as the Collections and Tours Coordinator at the Tom Lea Institute. Outside of work, I enjoy reading fantasy novels, watching TV, and putting together puzzles. My favorite books include the Throne of Glass series and the Cinder series. Two of my favorite works by Tom Lea are his pencil drawing of the ballerina Martha Esquivel and his oil painting Summer's Green Arcanum.
Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
Abraham Pichardo
Hola! My name is Abraham; I was born and raised in El Paso, and I’m the Marketing & Social Media Coordinator at the Tom Lea Institute. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, learning to cook traditional Mexican dishes, writing short stories, and telling corny jokes to friends. My all-time favorite films to watch are “Rango”, “Cars”, “Office Space”, and “Bajo la Misma Luna”. My favorite Tom Lea artwork is Sierra Madre because of how vividly Lea depicted the mountains and green scenery.
Grants Writer
Becky Deike
Hi, I’m Becky Deike, the Grant Writer at the Tom Lea Institute. In my free time, I love to read historical fiction, hiking, and watching U.T. Football - Hook’em! A fun fact about me is that my family is starting a new family adventure this summer - beekeeping!
Education Manager
David Desrosiers
Hello, my name is David Desrosiers, and I am the Education Manager at the Tom Lea Institute. I enjoy sharing Tom Lea’s artwork with teachers and students. My favorite movie is Patton, and my favorite book is Team Yankee by Harold Coyle. I enjoy early morning runs before the sun comes up.
