Expert Carmina Mortillaro

Exhibits Specialist, Space Center Houston
Manned Space Flight Education Foundation

Carmina Mortillaro has more than 25 years of museum experience and as the exhibit specialist for Space Center Houston, she curates, designs and develops permanent exhibits and temporary displays to tell the story of human space exploration. A dynamic science and engineering learning destination, the center is a Smithsonian Affiliate, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, a Certified Autism Center and named “Best Museum in Texas” by USA Today.

Supporting the nonprofit’s mission to inspire people through the wonders of space exploration, Mortillaro researches and implements museum industry best practices in support of creating innovative, authentic learning experiences for people of all ages.

She oversees all temporary exhibits, which change three times a year, from designing the floor plan to coordinating logistics throughout the installation process. Mortillaro develops exclusive content for Space Center Houston to enhance content in its temporary exhibits, often including artifacts that are not usually on public display. She manages updates and improvements for permanent exhibits. Her role includes graphic design, curating artifacts, images, and audio-visual content. She works closely with NASA Johnson Space Center engineers, scientists, historians, administrators, artists, and other space exploration experts.

Mortillaro actively implements accessibility best practices in design to meet Space Center Houston’s brand standards to bring the story of space exploration to every guest. As the center’s artifact collection grows, Mortillaro is increasingly involved in applying conservation strategies to artifact displays and handling.

Her extensive museum experience includes the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum and the Center for Folklife Programs and Cultural Studies in Washington, D.C.; and Exhibitech in Houston, Texas.

She holds a Master of Arts degree in anthropology with a concentration in museum studies and a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history from The George Washington University, Washington D.C.