René Ballesteros was raised in the Rio Grande Valley borderlands between Monterrey, Mexico, and McAllen, Texas. He graduated from James Nikki Rowe High School while also receiving a diploma from the International Baccalaureate program at Lamar Academy in McAllen. René went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Texas Pan-American and is currently pursuing a MAIS in Anthropology with a concentration in History and Mexican-American Studies from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.As part of his studies, René was the Latinos in Heritage Conservation Community Engagement spring 2023 fellow and is now serving on staff as the Development Manager for LHC. René also currently serves as head of the Publicity Committee for the Hidalgo County Historical Commission, on the American Association of State and Local History’s Educators and Interpreters Committee and is active with other history and cultural resource organizations. René previously served at the Museum of South Texas History, in Edinburg, Texas, from 2009 to 2023 as a gallery host, then a docent guiding school tours, archival assistant, as the Programs and Events Officer and finally Community Engagement Officer. René is an avid cyclist and previously served on the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Committee.