Zachary Arao Hanson
Writer, Cultural Researcher, Filmmaker, Photographer

Biography

My name is Zachary Hanson. Born and raised in Riverside, California, I have worked with many communities both in Riverside and the wider Inland Empire. Archival management and presentation is the center of my academic passion; I am deeply interested in historic & cultural preservation, public history, object repatriation, and museum operations. Artistically, I am drawn to photography, filmmaking, and multimedia & installation art.

My Work Experience

Since September 2018, I have worked with the Riverside sports and studio photography company Leone Photography, capturing and editing tens of thousands of images for clients. From December 2023 to December 2024, I interned with the Museum of Riverside, aiding the museum in cataloging and organization in preparation for the institution's renovation and reopening. In the summer of 2024, I interned with Washington DC's opulent O Museum in the Mansion, producing a photo catalogue of over 3000 artworks throughout the museum and streamlining accession numbering regarding sales of objects, in addition to aiding in advertisement and marketing through images. Between September 2024 and March 2025, I participated in an internship with the indigenous-owned Malki Museum in Banning, California, aiding in grant-writing, archival management, event photography, and marketing design. Since March 2025, I have focused on academic and artistic production, in addition to temporary museum work and photography work with Leone Photography. I plan to fill a position in collections management when possible.

Academics

B.A., History, University of California, Riverside, 2025, 3.79 GPA
-Emphasis: Indigenous History, Documentary filmmaking, Public history
-Capstone: "Necronomicon (in EPUB or PDF): A Modernism for the Endtimes"
-Honors: Cum Laude, History Distinction, University Honors
A.A., History, Riverside City College, 2023, 3.66 GPA
-Honors: 6x Dean's Honor List, Honors Program