Benjamin Peterson
Chair

Benjamin is a 3rd generation native of San Luis Obispo and a graduate of SLO High and Westmont College, where he obtained a BA in History and served as Student Government President. He is currently a District Representative for State Senator Monique Limón. 

Jim Andre

Jim Andre taught finance and accounting at USC, Cal Poly, and Loyola Marymount University. He spends considerable time in Southern California, but he has been a member of our Center his entire life – in fact, his father Peter R. Andre is the man who incorporated the Historical Society of San Luis Obispo County in 1953! Jim’s grandfather J.J. Andre was an early downtown business owner, and the Andre family story is recorded in publications on file in our Research Room. Jim will be working with us to improve the financial stability of the Dallidet property and the History Center as a whole.

Kathleen Cairns

Kathleen Cairns taught History/Women's Studies at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and at California State University Sacramento. Before that she was a journalist in Long Beach, CA. She holds a Ph.D. in history from UC Davis, and is the author of six books--all focused on women and California history.

Debbie Collins

Debbie is a local institution, building a business while volunteering extensively in the community.  She ran La Fiesta for many years, and also is involved with the Monday Club and the Central Coast Aquarium.  She is the owner of the Del Monte Cafe and we are privileged to benefit from her unparalleled catering skills at numerous Dallidet events. 

Dr. LeolA Dublin Macmillan

Dr. Leola Dublin Macmillan is a critical cultural scholar, essayist and social justice activist. She holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from Washington State University. Her scholarly production includes work on adolescent identity development in marginalized girls, and the representation of women and girls in American visual culture.

Dr. Macmillan has served on the board of Just Communities Central Coast, is on the steering committee of RACE Matters SLO County and is a member of the SLO Police Department’s Police and Community Together (PACT) community group. She has more than 30 years’ experience as both an educator and an activist. She has taught in a broad range of disciplines - both inside and outside of higher education - from environmental science to adult literacy. Dr. Macmillan has also worked as a consultant, providing diversity training, grant writing, strategic planning, facilitation, and editorial services for her clients. In 2019, Rep. Salud Carbajal recognized Dr. Macmillan as Congressional Woman of the Year.

Sharon Gottesfeld

Sharon has extensive volunteer experience as a Museum volunteer docent and on the Exhibits Committee. She is an attorney, having practiced in Los Angeles.

Kaylee Scoggins Herring

Born and raised here in San Luis Obispo County, Kaylee has a bachelor's in history and a masters in archives and records management.  After many years as an archivist, she transitioned into the educational tourism field, but is still committed to the preservation of local history. When she's not working you can find Kaylee cutting a rug in the Lindy Hop swing dancing scene, hand making leather shoes, or hunting down the best vintage fashion at estate sales.

Roberta Soules
Treasurer

Roberta graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in Social Sciences. She spent the year after graduating in Denmark and missed San Luis Obispo so much that she moved back to San Luis Obispo.  Roberta then studied tax and accounting and apprenticed with a local CPA before starting a tax practice with financial planning from UCSB in addition.  She has been on the exhibits committee at the History Center since 2006 and retired from preparing taxes in 2022.

John Villa

John Villa has family roots that go way back: His family name, originally Villavicencia, includes a substantial contribution of Salinan ancestry, enough to qualify John as a member of the local Salinan Tribal Council. John is the owner of Villa Automotive, and is also well known for his support of local youth sports. His response to our invitation to join the Board was simple: “Put me in, Coach!” John’s Aunt Arlene Zanchuk imbued all of his family with a great love of local history and an appreciation of the need to support our organization financially: Arlene left a substantial bequest to the History Center for the Dallidet Adobe.