Denene De Quintal

Denene De Quintal has a diverse range of work experience in the field of Native American art and culture. Denene began their career as a Museum Intern at Tomaquag Museum in 2006, where they worked on the preservation and curation of Native American artifacts. In 2012, they pursued a PhD in Cultural Anthropology at The University of Chicago, focusing on Native American identity in Southern New England. During this time, they conducted in-depth interviews and participant observation to understand how Native Americans navigate their identity.

After completing their PhD, Denene worked as a Summer Institute Museum Fellow at the Smithsonian Institution in 2012. Denene then joined the University of Massachusetts Amherst as a Lecturer, where they developed and taught a course on Native American Studies. Denene also facilitated discussions, invited guest speakers, and advised students during their time at the university.

In 2016, Denene transitioned to the Denver Art Museum as an Andrew W. Mellon Post-Doctoral Curatorial Fellow in American Indian Art. Denene gained curatorial skills and co-curated the exhibition "Eyes On: Julie Buffalohead." Denene also conducted research on the Indian Arts and Crafts Act and Native American artists in Southern New England, contributing to the museum's collection and knowledge.

Currently, Denene is working as an Assistant Curator for Native American Art at the Detroit Institute of Arts, a role they started in 2019. In this position, they continue to contribute to the curation and preservation of Native American art in the museum.

Denene De Quintal holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Chicago, which was completed in 2012. Prior to their doctoral studies, they obtained a Master's degree in Cultural Anthropology from the same institution in 2001. Denene'seducational journey began at Cornell University, where they earned a Bachelor's degree in Cultural Anthropology from 1994 to 1998.