Our Team
We are YOU!
The diverse Heritage Education Network Belize team consists of dedicated experts with decades of experience in different disciplines as well as citizen researchers, activists and students. Above all the research and professional careers, we are everyday people with a deep love for culture binding us together.
We are dedicated to culture and heritage and finding solutions by looking at holistic approaches and always expanding our horizons.
Board of Directors
Sylvia Batty
Director, Archaeologist, Consultant
Sylvia was born in Pasadena California and was raised in Belize from a toddler. As a child, Sylvia was an avid reader and began volunteering on archaeological research projects in Belize at age 12. This passion would lead Sylva to earn a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology with a concentration in Archaeology from the Galen University in Belize.
Sylvia has been employed in the Research and Education Department of the Institute of Archaeology, at the National Institute for Culture and History (NICH) since 2012. This has allowed her opportunities to engage in the areas of Underwater Archaeology, Disaster Risk Reduction for Culture, Archaeology Education, and Collections Management.
Through her other NGO, Fajina Archaeology Outreach, Sylvia co-authored and distributed over 700 free copies of To the Mountain! the first tri-lingual (English, Spanish, and Yucatec Mayan) archaeologically inspired children’s book in Belize. Sylvia also organized the Succotz Archaeology and Culture Fair to create opportunities for culture and knowledge exchange between archaeologists and the communities in which they work.
Ella Békési
Director, Cultural Heritage & Education Professional
Ella was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary. She then studied Archaeology and Cultural Heritage at University College London in the United Kingdom. In the past ten years, she has worked as an assistant in public and commercial archaeology as well as in the heritage sectors in the United Kingdom, UNESCO and Central America. Ella also participated in the Lamanai Archaeology Project (LAP) in Belize, and has assisted branches of the Belizean National Institute of Culture and History in numerous projects.
Throughout the years, Ella witnessed the direct connection between socio-economic and human rights challenges, archaeological conservation and safeguarding heritage. Through her Masters research, she developed an interest in heritage education and inclusive and sustainable archaeological and cultural heritage preservation through community engagement and youth involvement. Ella continues to work in informal learning and education.
Dr. Rebecca Friedel Juan
Director, Education & Heritage Professional, Paleoethnobotanist
Rebecca was born and raised in Woodstock, Illinois, USA. Her experiences during her youth led her to pursue a BA in Anthropology at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2010. This journey brought her to the graduate program in Anthropology at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) where she received her MA in 2017 and PhD in 2021. She is passionate about interdisciplinary work but is an anthropologist and archaeologist by training who specializes in the study of ancient human-plant relationships, or paleoethnobotany.
Rebecca has conducted research for the Mopan Valley Archaeology and Preclassic Projects in Cayo, Belize since 2013. She has a long history of working to increase public education through outreach in Belize, having co-founded Fajina Archaeology Outreach in 2015. Throughout her studies, she received several grants and fellowships that allowed her to collaborate with individuals and build an interdisciplinary professional network.
She is passionate about education, having lectured at the University of Texas at San Antonio and Northwest Vista Community College in San Antonio, Texas, USA. Under a Fulbright Scholar Award, Rebecca taught at the University of Belize for the Spring semester in 2021 where she aided in establishing a new Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology program. She also served as lecturer in Anthropology at Galen University for Fall 2020.
Rebecca’s experience with education, public outreach, and interdisciplinary projects makes her ideal for establishing salient and successful resources and programs for the variety of sectors related to cultural and natural heritage.
April Martinez
Director, Lecturer at the University of Belize, Osteoarchaeologist
April was raised in Belmopan, Belize. After obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology at Galen University in Belize, she earned her Master of Arts in Archaeology from Leiden University in the Netherlands. April originally specializes in Archaeology and Anthropology of Mesoamerica and the Andes and Osteoarchaeology.
She joined the University of Belize in 2017 as an Adjunct Lecturer and became a full-time lecturer in 2018. Throughout her years, April has participated in excavation research for The Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance Project, Programme for Belize Archaeological Project and The Maya Research Project and considers herself more of a researcher than anything else. These experiences have allowed her to create versatile learning outcomes in her classes. April's goal is to teach Belizeans to be free-thinkers so that they may build a future that they can be proud of.
April’s experience in education is key to develop high-quality online courses and learning materials at Heritage Education Network Belize.
Advisors & Collaborators
Our network includes various professionals and collaborators that help make HENB a resilient community.
Linette Sabido
Intangible Cultural Heritage Consultant & Researcher
Raised in Benque Viejo del Carmen, Linette Sabido moved to Belize city to pursue her education at St. John’s College Junior College.
Completing her degree in Sociology and Economics, her professional career begun as a Research Assistant at the Institute for Social & Cultural Research (ISCR), a branch under the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH).
She was then awarded a scholarship through the Organization of the American States (OAS) that allowed her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Arts in Sociology. Upon her return, she assumed the role of Research & Education Officer under the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) portfolio. She has been serving under that capacity for two years.
Volunteers
We are proud of the strong individuals with diverse backgrounds that we have supporting our vision and mission here at HENB.
Marco Vasquez
Volunteer, Tech Specialist and Developer & Culture and Wellbeing Project Manager
Marco is an experienced Developer and Product Designer with a demonstrated history of working in the information technology and services industry. He is skilled in Mobile App Development, Web Development, Network Administration and System Administration. Marco is also an entrepreneurship professional with a Bachelor's degree focused on Computer Science from Universidad de Quintana Roo.
Marco was born and raised in Belize. Immediately after finishing his studies, he opened a tech business, Gamaa Solutions. He is active in the community by volunteering his time as Treasurer of The Rotaract Club of Corozal. Due to the current climate, Marco has witnessed the economic struggle of many of his fellow Belizeans. Through his expertise, he wants to help local businesses through several avenues such as training, advertising and consultation; using Heritage Education Network Belize as a platform.
Nadieme Villar
Volunteer, Social Media Assistant
Nadieme Villar is the Social media assistant of the Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok pages for Heritage Education Network Belize.
She holds an Associates of Arts degree in History and Literature from Saint John's Junior College, Belize City. She is currently enrolled at the University of Belize under the History Bachelors program.
Ms. Villar is currently living in Los Angeles, California but maintains her interest and passion for the social conversation surrounding Belizean Youths and being a steward of heritage education.
Khaila Gentle
Volunteer, Author & Content Writer
Khaila Gentle is a freelance content writer, author, and poet residing in Belize City, Belize. As a writer, one of her greatest passions is invoking a change, however small, in her readers be it through her articles or her Fantasy novels and short stories. Themes that can be found throughout her writing include BIPOC representation, mental health, self-care, and culture.
You can learn more about Khaila on her website at kgentlewrites.com
Alexya Vida Pérez
Volunteer, Economist
Alexya was born and raised in Belize. She obtained a BA in Economics from John Carroll University, USA and an MSc in Development Studies from the University of Glasgow, UK. Alexya currently works in Economic, Cooperation and Trade Affairs. She has immense love for her country and hopes to contribute positively to its economic and social growth through Heritage Education Network Belize. She lives by the words: never forget where you came from and always know where you’re going!
Aley Villarreal
Volunteer, Archaeologist and Museum Professional
Aley Villarreal was born and raised in Maryland, where she completed her BA in Archaeology and Latin American Studies at the Johns Hopkins University. While she originally intended to study in Egypt, classes in Ancient American art made her fall in love with Maya history and art.
During her undergraduate career, she also worked at the JHU Archaeological Museum, where she assisted with the curation of their Central Mexican and Maya artefacts. Experiences in this museum setting, as well as seven years of excavation experience in Belize, have brought her to HENB. She hopes to work closely with the organization to spread the importance of Cultural Heritage and museum practices.
Aley is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Texas, San Antonio, where she researches Middle Preclassic Maya ceramics. Her work with the early ceramics of the Mopan River Valley, Belize, brought her to San Jose Succotz, Cayo. There, she collaborated with local potters from the village to learn traditional ceramic techniques. This collaboration solidified her interest in Cultural Heritage work and the importance of community outreach and collaboration.
Our Network
