Jose Santamaria was executive director of Tellus Science Museum, formerly the Weinman Mineral Museum, from August 1996 through September 2023. He stepped down as executive director on October 1, 2023 and now serves as executive director emeritus advising on special projects, helping with the museum's mineral and fossil collection, and in other capacities as requested.Born in Cuba, Jose grew up in Atlanta, where he earned a Degree in Visual Arts at Georgia State University. Prior to entering the museum field, he worked in the restaurant business for 20 years during which time he also ran an art studio in Atlanta. His life-long interest in geology, minerals, and science in general led him to his current position at Tellus. During his tenure, the Weinman expanded from a 9000-square-foot mineral museum into a 120,000 square foot award-winning science facility.Jose is co-author of The 50 Coolest Things at Tellus, published in 2015, and editor of Minerals of Georgia, published in 2016. Active for 30 years in the mineral education community, Jose is a past president of the Georgia Mineral Society and the Rome Georgia Mineral Society. He is also a past president of the Georgia Association of Museums, and in January 2016 was awarded the Museum Professional of the Year award by the organization. He and his wife Maia live in Rome’s Old East Rome neighborhood in a renovated 1930 craftsman bungalow with their two dogs and one cat.