SEMC’s 2024 Incoming and Returning Council Officers and Directors 27 Winners of the 2024 SEMC Museum Professional and Competition Awards 53
The Florida Street Blowhards kick off opening night tours of the Old State Capitol, Louisiana Art and Science Museum, and LSU Museum of Art.
George Bassi, director of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art and a former SEMC President, leads the second line to the Old State Capitol.
semc
Alabama North Carolina
Arkansas South Carolina
Florida Tennessee
Georgia Virginia
Kentucky West Virginia
Louisiana U.S. Virgin Islands
Mississippi Puerto Rico
staff
Zinnia Willits
Executive Director
Carla Phillips
Manager of Communications
and Member Services
Heather Nowak
Program Administrator
contact semc
SEMC | P.O. Box 550746
Atlanta, GA 30355-3246
T: 404.814.2048 or 404.814.2047
F: 404.814.2031
W: www.SEMCdirect.net
E: membershipservices@SEMCdirect.net
Inside SEMC is published twice a year by SEMC. Annual subscription is included in membership dues.
Design: Nathan Moehlmann, Goosepen Studio & Press
The deadline for the Summer 2025 newsletter is June 30, 2025. To submit information for the newsletter, please contact Zinnia Willits (zwillits@semcdirect.net) or Carla Phillips (cphillips@ semcdirect.net).
semc officers
Dr. Calinda Lee President sources.lee@gmail.com
Principal, Sources Cultural Resources Management, LLC, Atlanta, GA
Ahmad Ward Vice President award@exploremitchelville.org
Executive Director, Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, Hilton Head Island, SC
Deborah Rose Van Horn Secretary Deborah.vanhorn@gmail.com
Senior Curator, Walt Disney Imagineering, Lake Buena Vista, FL
Scott Alvey Treasurer Scott.Alvey@ky.gov
Director, Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort, KY
Matthew S. Davis Past President mdavis4@wlu.edu
Director of Institutional History Museum, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA
semc directors
Eboni Belton eab714@gmail.com
Lead Gallery Attendant, Center for Civil Rights History and Research at the University of South Carolina,Columbia, SC
Tafeni English
tafeni.english@splcenter.org
Director, Alabama State Office, Southern Poverty Law Center/Civil Rights Memorial, Montgomery, AL
Katie Ericson-Baskin kericso@emory.edu
Director of Education, Michael C. Carlos Museum, Atlanta, GA
Matt Farah Matt.Farah@hnoc.org
Exhibition Coordinator, Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans, LA
Alicia Franck Alicia.franck@nationalww2museum.org
Vice President and Chief Development Officer, The National World War II Museum, New Orleans, LA
Tamara Herring therring@morrisheritagecenter.org
Executive Director, Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, Ridgeland, SC
Felicia Knise Ingram Felicia.Ingram@dncr.nc.gov
Head of Interpretation, North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
Brigette Janea Jones Brigette@arabiaalliance.org
Assistant Executive Director, Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, Stonecrest, GA
Katy Malone kmalon15@utk.edu
Manager of Education and Community Engagement, McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, Knoxville, TN
Michelle Schulte mschulte@lsu.edu
Chief Curator, LSU Museum of Art, Baton Rouge, LA
Deitrah J. Taylor dtaylorhistorian@gmail.com
Public Historian, Milledgeville, GA
Scott Warren Scott.warren@dncr.nc.gov Director,
President James K. Polk Historic Site, Pineville, NC
semc executive director’s notes
Dear SEMC:
As we begin a new year, I am extremely grateful to all those who supported SEMC in making this year a success. We are a strong community and network of support for each other. The sense of camaraderie has flourished over the years and events like the 2024 Annual Meeting are such a lift when we can be together, share knowledge, collaborate, and support one another. 500+ SEMC members joined us at SEMC2024 in Baton Rouge and the conference vibe was so positive. The sessions were solid, the featured speakers terrific, and events were energized, unique, and welcoming. I witnessed so many small interactions that encouraged me to believe we continue to move in the right direction as a member organization.
In my long experience with SEMC, the Annual Meeting leadership, local planning teams, attendees and industry partners have always been a hard-working, dedicated, congenial group and it is no surprise that the best qualities of SEMC were once again front and center this year Baton Rouge. Executing an event of this size with such small staff is challenging, but with years of planning, collaboration, input, and support from
generous sponsors, the SEMC staff, Council, Program Committee, the amazing event team from Hutchinson Design Group, dedicated volunteers and of course the Baton Rouge local teams , we were able to execute a successful annual meeting. We had 55 different companies and organizations that provide services to museums represented in the 2024 Expo Hall in addition to tables showcasing the SEMC2024 Publication contest winners, Student Work in Museums poster projects, and complimentary professional headshots for any attendee who wanted one. Our 2024 sponsorship was strong with industry partners, museums, associations, and foundations contributing funds toward the 2024 Annual Meeting. Luncheons were well attended, and we had close to 170 at the 2024 Awards Luncheon and Roundtable Discussion, which is one of the largest turnouts for an Awards Luncheon that we have had! We were thrilled to send SEMC attendees to wonderful evening events at many different Baton Rouge museums and sites including the LSU Museum of Art, Louisiana Old State Capitol, Louisiana Art and Science Museum, Capitol Park Museum, LSU Rural Life Museum and the Louisiana Old Governor’s Mansion . Additionally, sites including Whitney Plantation, Oak Alley Plantation, The Historic
Zinnia Willits addresses the SEMC Legacy Society at the Louisiana Old Governor’s Mansion.
New Orleans Collection, National WWII Museum, LSU University Museums (Textile and Costume Museum, William A. Brookshire Military Museum, LSU Archives, LSU Campus Mounds) and LSU Tiger Stadium, welcomed SEMC attendees for special excursions both pre- and post-conference. Through additional local efforts we were able to offer Looking At Baton Rouge African American History and Downtown Cultural Landscapes walking tours. The SEMC Council came together in Baton Rouge to complete and activate the organization’s next strategic plan. We increased participation in the Table Talk program, a memorable evening session with direct conversation between a diverse group of participants that was important, necessary, and hopeful in terms of how our attendees interact as a SEMC community. We offered a terrific Opening Plenary Session with an amazing lineup of Louisiana arts and culture leaders including Brandon Lewis, Jason Andreasen, Miranda Restovic, Morgan Udoh and Luke St. John McKnight in conversation about the intersection of humanities, culture, and identity in the South. Brad MacDonald delivered an engaging Keynote Address
that highlighted the role of technology (both innovative and inspiring) in “what’s next” for museums, arts, culture, and humanity.
As we begin a new year, we are thankful for your commitment to keep moving forward and jumping the hurdles ahead. SEMC will keep working hard to be a resource for museums in the region to stay connected, share solutions, advocate, and remain resilient. We are grateful for all who center inclusion to ensure that museums reflect the diverse voices, cultures, and experiences of the communities they serve. I am committed to leading SEMC through whatever lies ahead. It is my honor and privilege to continue to strive to make SEMC a place that EVERYONE can call their professional home.
A sincere THANK YOU to all who attended this year’s Annual Meeting and made SEMC 2024 possible. Onward!
With appreciation,
Zinnia Willits , SEMC Executive Director
Zinnia Willits with Council members, Ahmad Ward, Scott Warren and Experience Montgomery representative, Aquan Robinson at the 2024 Legacy Reception.
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semc past president’s address
Greetings, SEMC Members!
I hope this message finds you well and it was great to see many of you at our recent annual meeting in Baton Rouge! It was an amazing conference, and I enjoyed many of the innovative sessions, evening events, and networking that makes our annual meeting among the best in the field. It has been among the highest honors of my professional career to serve as your president these last two years. I am continuously inspired by this community of professionals, many of which have grown to be trusted friends and colleagues. Our region is doing needed work to advance our field through inclusive interpretation, cutting edge exhibitions, and innovative educational programming and it is important for us to continue to engage with each other to foster innovation and best practices. SEMC continues to grow and innovate, and I am excited to see what lies ahead for our organization and region!
I would like to thank the SEMC Council, professional staff, and our Executive Director Zinnia Willits for all their support. Our organization is truly fortunate to have such an amazing leadership team in place and I know that we will continue to grow and flourish in the years ahead. I look forward to continuing to be an active member of our organization and hope to see to each of you in Montgomery, Alabama, for SEMC2025! Thank you all again for the honor and opportunity to serve as your president and I wish you all a happy new year!
Sincerely,
Matt S. Davis , SEMC Past President and Director of Institutional History Museums, Washington and Lee University
Jeffrey Gibson (b. 1972), Migration, 2016, acrylic and graphite on canvas, 70 x 57 1/8 in. Art Bridges. Image courtesy of the Artist and Roberts & Tilton, Los Angeles, CA. Photography by Peter Mauney.
semc president’s address
My Dear SEMC Members:
I am deeply honored—and incredibly excited—to write my first President’s Message to you. 2024 was a momentous year for SEMC. Together, we turned the corner on the challenges of finding a “new normal” after the COVID epidemic. We made tough decisions to stabilize and rebuild after economic setbacks, and responded to the growing demand to ensure our work is relevant, inclusive, and compelling. These pressures have made us stronger and braver, and I look forward to continuing to build on this strength and enthusiasm together.
On behalf of our organization, I want to celebrate the resounding success of this year’s conference! The thought-provoking panels and honest, impactful conversations reminded us of the unique value we bring to the museum field. The tours offered fresh perspectives, and the lively expo hall buzzed with innovation and connection. We also enjoyed new traditions and cherished old ones, from sponsored affinity luncheons to the everprovocative Table Talk. None of this would have been possible without the tireless efforts of our dedicated host committee and SEMC staff, who worked behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly. A huge thank-you also goes to our
members, whose commitment sustains SEMC, and to our corporate and philanthropic partners for their generous support. This conference truly reflected the power of collaboration and community! Mark your calendars for next year’s Annual Meeting: October 19–22, 2025, in Montgomery, Alabama— we can’t wait to see you there.
Until then, remember that SEMC offers so much more than our annual conference. This is your professional network, designed to support you throughout the year. Members gain future-focused professional development with the revamped JIMI program, sharpen executive skills in the innovative Leadership Institute, and participate in virtual and in-person events that help us all stay at the forefront of our field throughout the year.
Finally, please take a few moments to explore this newsletter. It is packed with updates, resources, and opportunities to lend your expertise to SEMC’s work. It is truly a joy and a privilege to “work on purpose” alongside you.
Wishing you and yours peace and joy in the new year, Calinda Lee , SEMC President and Principal, Sources Cultural Resources Management, LLC, Atlanta, GA
SOUTH CAROLINA CIVIL RIGHTS CENTER
FORT MONROE VISITOR & EDUCATION CENTER
FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
LODGE MUSEUM OF CAST IRON
MEMBERSHIP CORNER
Dear SEMC 2024 Volunteer Team:
Volunteering is at the heart of any strong and thriving community. As a member, your involvement makes a world of difference to SEMC.
Your contribution of time, skills, and energy in Baton Rouge created a positive environment and helped support your colleagues from around the region. From assisting at the registration table to shepherding sessions, to helping with luncheons and events, you showed up with enthusiasm, a positive spirit, and an attitude of “what can I do.” Beyond the impact you had on your colleagues, we hope it allowed you the opportunity to build meaningful relationships, connect with like-minded individuals, and strengthen your network.
Volunteering does not just help SEMC; it fosters a sense of belonging, makes a tangible difference, and inspires others to join in as well. Whether this was your first time volunteering, or you are a returning member of the team, every contribution counts and adds to the collective success.
Together we provided a conference filled with professional development, networking, and community
building. For all your efforts in making SEMC 2024 successful, thank you from the bottom of my heart!
As we look back on 2024, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks to each of you. You are not just members of the SEMC community—you are the driving force behind everything we do. Your passion, dedication, and collaboration inspire us daily, and I am deeply grateful to have the opportunity to work alongside such an incredible network of professionals.
As we reflect on the successes of SEMC2024, I am filled with gratitude for all those who participated. Your engagement created an inspiring time of connection, collaboration, and shared learning. A special thanks goes to the 2024 SEMC Program Committee for their extraordinary efforts and dedication. Their thoughtful planning and commitment resulted in a dynamic, wellrounded program featuring 50 engaging sessions and 7 hands-on workshops. We had over 480 individual session evaluations!
Our time together in Baton Rouge was inspiring, and now is the perfect moment to build on that momentum by looking ahead to SEMC2025 in Montgomery, Alabama. There are already opportunities to get involved! We encourage you to explore the suggested session topics for 2025 and consider submitting a session or workshop proposal—your voice and expertise are essential in creating a meeting that resonates with our diverse
community. The call for 2025 session proposals is open and can be found at: https://www.semcdirect. net/session-proposals
Let’s not forget, our virtual program series continues to provide enriching opportunities to learn, grow, and stay connected throughout the year. There is so much to look forward to as we work together to expand our horizons and strengthen our collective impact. Wishing you a wonderful new year!
Heather Nowak , SEMC Program Administrator hnowak@semcdirect.net
Panel members for Black Leadership in Museums session at SEMC2024.
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SEMC’S 2024 INCOMING AND RETURNING COUNCIL OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
president
Dr. Calinda N. Lee
Owner and Principal Consultant
Sources CRM, LLC
Atlanta, Georgia
Educated at Spelman College (BA), New York University (MA) and Emory University (MA and PhD), Calinda N. Lee founded Sources Cultural Resources Management, LLC to provide historicallyresonant, inclusive interpretation and organizational development services. Calinda’s historical expertise informs opportunities to connect stories and events from the past with current day circumstances. The value of community engagement in historical interpretation as well as civil and human rights work is of utmost importance to Calinda, and informs programs and initiatives under her leadership. Clients include the United States State Department, the City Museum of Washington, DC, DC Public Libraries, State of Maryland, State of Georgia, Chicago History Museum, Northwestern University and many more.
Prior to establishing Sources, Lee served as the Head of Interpretation at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. She joined the executive leadership team at The Center to oversee its mission-focused work. In this role, she oversaw Education and Exhibitions teams as well as substantive program work on community partnerships. Calinda previously served as Vice President of Historical Interpretation
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and Community Engagement for the Atlanta History Center. There, she served as chief historian, considering historical interpretation for all aspects of the region’s past to develop the AHC’s primary collections, historic houses, historic gardens, and public programs. She also developed Community Engagements and the AHC’s Neighborhoods Initiative. As a scholar and administrator, Dr. Lee has held teaching and administrative positions at Emory University, Loyola University Chicago and Spelman College. A prolific practitioner, she is an award-winning curator, writer, and educator.
vice president
Ahmad Ward
Executive Director
Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park
Hilton Head, South Carolina
Ahmad Ward is responsible for implementing the Mitchelville master plan that will recreate this historic town as an interpretative site. The mission of the Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park is to preserve, promote and honor Historic Mitchelville, the first self-governed town of formerly enslaved people in the United States. he Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park will convey this important story of freedom and citizenship to visitors from around the country. Prior to this position, Mr. Ward spent fifteen years leading
the Education Department at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham Alabama. It is there where he honed his expertise in telling the story of civil and human rights in America, with a focus on historical analysis and application to current social justice issues. With Masters-level training and years of experience in exhibition design, he brings a strong understanding of storytelling and the importance of technology in interpretation. Mr. Ward has been responsible for creating programming partnerships with local schools, universities and organizations; teacher and student resources; written articles, blogs and essays for local, national and international platforms as well as the development of public programming for community-at-large in the areas of civil and human rights movements, multiculturalism and contemporary human rights issues.
He is a native of Elizabeth City, North Carolina and holds a BA in Art from Elizabeth City State University and a MA in Museum Studies from Hampton University. Mr. Ward is a Board member of the Association of African American Museums, a member of Rotary of Hilton Head Island Club and serves on the Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) and Jekyll Island Management Institute (JIMI) Selection Board. He is a former member of the Smithsonian Affiliates Advisory Board and an
incoming Council Member for SEMC. Mr. Ward enjoys drawing, watching sports, cooking, sleeping (when possible) and fantasy football. He and his wife, Dafina have two brilliant daughters, Masani Ashiya and Aminah Elon.
treasurer
Scott Alvey
Executive Director Kentucky Historical Society Frankfort, Kentucky
Scott Alvey is the Executive Director of the Kentucky Historical Society. He directs the organization’s mission, values and strategic priorities through programming, publications, exhibits and other public resources. Alvey began his career as an education volunteer for the Museum of History and Science in Louisville. As the museum grew into the Louisville Science Center, he led education programs, collections, facilities, and exhibition development. In 2008, he joined the Kentucky Historical Society as design studio director, leading efforts to create promotional and interpretative experiences. He became deputy director in 2012 and was named executive director in July 2018.
“Museums create pivotal experiences,” he said. “At the Kentucky Historical Society, we help people connect to history through ancestry, art, subject
matter and many other touchpoints. It’s not about just putting things on display. It’s about giving people experiences that will inspire them and that they’ll remember.”
An Evansville, IN. native, Alvey holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Western Kentucky University and is a 2010 graduate of the American Association of State and Local History (AASLH) Seminar for Historical Administration. He chaired the host committee for the AASLH 2015 Conference in Louisville, KY, was president of the Kentucky Museum and Heritage Alliance and state director for the Southeast Museums Conference. He is in the 2022 class of Leadership Kentucky and serves on a variety of boards and commissions, including the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation, Kentucky Historic Properties Advisory Committee, Kentucky Military Heritage Commission, Kentucky Oral History Commission, and the Kentucky Sestercentennial Commission.
secretary
Deborah Rose Van Horn
Senior Curator
Walt Disney Imagineering Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Deborah Rose Van Horn has been working in the museum field for over 20 years in various positions. She is currently Senior Curator with Walt Disney
Imagineering where she cares for the galleries in the Walt Disney World Parks in Florida and helps develop new exhibitions. Deb has focused on collections management, registration and exhibition development. She has served in various museum leadership roles over the years, as a past-chair for the Southeastern Registrars Association, a former board member for the Registrars Committee-AAM (later CS-AAM), scholarship committee chair for the Southeastern Museums Conference and state representative for the awards committee of the American Association for State and Local History. Deb is also the editor or author of several books and articles including the latest editions of Basic Condition Reporting: A Handbook and Registration Methods for the Small Museum. past president
Matthew S. Davis
Director of Institutional History Museum Washington and Lee University Lexington, Virginia
Matt Davis is a native of Kinston, NC and received his education at Georgia College & State University. Graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History in 2002 and a Master of Arts in History with a concentration in Public History in 2004, he is currently employed as the Director of
Institutional History Museums at Washington and Lee University, where he manages their National Historic Landmark Chapel, the Washington Gallery, and will oversee construction of new Institutional History Museum. From 2013-2024, Davis served as Director of Historic Museums at Georgia College & State University, which includes Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion, Andalusia: The Home of Flannery O’Connor, and The Sallie Ellis Davis House.
Davis is a member of several professional museum groups and boards. He was the founder of the Milledgeville Museum Association and served as president of the Georgia Association of Museums from 2018-2021. In 2019, he was elected to the governing council of the Southeastern Museums Conference and was elected by the membership as President in 2022. He also served as chair of the organization’s program and evaluation committee and was a founding co-chair of the Mid-Career professionals committee. Additionally, he is a member of the Historic House Museum Committee for the American Association of State and Local History, is a committeeman at large for CurCom, and serves as an accreditation reviewer for the American Alliance of Museums. Davis is a 2016 graduate of the 21st Century Museum Leadership Institute, which was sponsored by the George Washington University and the Smithsonian Institution and a 2022 graduate of the Southeastern Museum Conference Leadership Institute. He is a frequent guest speaker and presenter at museum conferences nationwide.
Aside from his duties at the museums, Davis teaches at Georgia Military College in the History Department as an Adjunct Professor of History. In 2008, Davis was named to Milledgeville Scene Magazine’s inaugural “20 under 40” list. In 2012, Davis was named as the Museum Professional of the Year by the Georgia Association of Museums. Davis has also served in a variety of capacities in various local organizations including service as chair of the Milledgeville Convention and Visitors Bureau, and as an advisor on the advisory board for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Georgia College. Recently, he was elected for his third term as a member of Georgia College’s Alumni Association Board of Directors.
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Matt resides in both Georgia and Virginia with his wife Lisa and his children Addison, Aiden, and Abigail. council directors, 2nd term (October 2024 – October 2027)
Katie Ericson-Baskin
Ingram Director of Education Michael C. Carlos Museum Atlanta, Georgia
Katie Ericson-Baskin is the Ingram Director of Education at the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University, where she is responsible for the development and implementation of educational and interpretive programs, and strategic oversight of the department. She manages a department of two full-time and one part-time staff members, and a volunteer staff of 60 volunteer docents, who all work together to create programs for a variety of audiences, from Pre-K-12, to university students, to Emory Healthcare, and life-long learners. Prior to this role she was the Senior Manager, School and Volunteer Programs, where her work centered on creating interdisciplinary connections between visual art and STEM, language arts, history, and
social emotional learning. She was a co-chair and founding member of the Carlos Museum’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, working across the institution and spearheading accessibility initiatives — including making the Carlos the first Art Museum in Georgia to receive Sensory Inclusion Certification.
Katie earned her bachelor’s degree in art management from Appalachian State University, and a master’s degree in Art Education from the University of Florida. Prior to the Carlos Museum, she worked as the Education and Outreach Coordinator at the Bernard A. Zuckerman Museum of Art at Kennesaw State University, Youth and Family Programs Fellow at North Carolina Museum of Art, and Exhibitions Assistant at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts at Appalachian State University. Katie has served as the Museum Representative on the Georgia Art Education Association (GAEA) Board, and won the GAEA Museum Educator of the Year award in 2021. She was the former chair for the SEMC Emerging Museum Professionals (2016–2021), and an active member of the SEMC Program Committee. She also served as co-leader of the Atlanta Cultural Educators group, and in 2017 was the founder of the Atlanta Emerging Museum Professionals Network, serving as a co-leader for two years. In addition to SEMC
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Council, she serves as the chair of SEMC Educators Committee, chaired the 2025 JIMI Instructor Selection Committee, and sits on the Atlanta Photography Group Advisory Council.
Brigette Janea Jones
Assistant Executive Director
Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance Stonecrest, GA
Brigette Janea Jones is the founder of Bridge Builders Historical Consulting LLC, a research and interpretive resource for museums and other nonprofit institutions that focuses on empathetic cultural remembrance, and the assistant executive director of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Before she took on these roles, Jones served as director of equitable partnerships for Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery and curator of social history for the Tennessee State Museum. Her work has concentrated on the social histories of the diverse cultures that inhabit Tennessee, including African American history, Latino history, Native American history, and Middle Eastern American history. She also studies the legacy and ongoing ramifications of enslavement in Tennessee and surrounding areas and the need for reparative action as it relates to American Descendants of Enslavement.
Jones was born and raised in Memphis and holds a bachelor of arts degree from the historically Black Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2019, she gained certification through the National Association of Interpretation and the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of African American History and Culture to be an official interpreter of the African American experience.
Deitrah J. Taylor
Public Historian/Dramaturg/Playwright Perry, Georgia
Deitrah Taylor is an independent curator and historian with 15 years of experience serving active learners of all ages. She previously worked as Cultural Center Coordinator for Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville and has additioanl experience with both the Old Governor’s Mansion and Sallie Ellis Davis House where she established new tours within the space covered by local and regional media. Deitrah Taylor served two terms as SEMC Secretary and will finish her second term term as a Council Director. She was also a founding member of the SEMC Equity and Inclusion Action Team.
MOSAIC TEMPLARS CULTURAL CENTER Little Rock, Arkansas
THE MISSISSIPPI CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM Jackson, Mississippi
council directors, 1st term (October 2024 – October 2027)
Eboni Belton
Lead Gallery Attendant Center for Civil Rights History and Research at the University of South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina
Eboni Belton is a dynamic historian with a deep passion for preserving and interpreting African American history, notably the American Civil Rights Movement. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in African American Studies and a concentration in Secondary Education from the University of South Carolina. Her academic foundation and enthusiasm for teaching have empowered her to engage diverse audiences with history’s most pivotal narratives. Currently, Eboni is the Lead Gallery Attendant for the Our Story Matters gallery’s “Intersection on Main Street” exhibit, housed at the Columbia Museum of Art. This impactful exhibit delves into the rich history of the Washington Street Black Business District in Columbia, South Carolina, from the 1870s to the 1970s. It is a collaborative initiative with the Center for Civil Rights History and Research at the University of South Carolina and Columbia SC 63, the city’s premier civil rights initiative. In this role,
Eboni is instrumental in guiding visitors through the profound legacy of Black entrepreneurship and community resilience.
In addition to her work at the museum, Eboni is a dedicated tour guide for Columbia SC 63. She leads walking tours along Main Street, bringing to life Columbia’s critical role in the Civil Rights Movement. Her expertise extends beyond the city as she helps organize pop-up exhibits across South Carolina, ensuring the stories of resistance and triumph are accessible to a broader audience. At Historic Columbia, Eboni enhances her storytelling by conducting historic house tours for significant sites such as the Museum of Reconstruction at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home, Hampton-Preston Mansion, the Mann-Simons Site, Modjeska Monteith Simkins Home, and the Robert Mills House. Through these tours, she skillfully connects the past to the present, making history resonate with all who experience it.
A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Eboni is deeply committed to preserving the rich heritage of her home state. She is a proud member of both the Association of African American Museums and the Southeastern Museums Conference, continually expanding her professional network and expertise in museum studies and public history. Eboni’s work
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honors the legacies of African American history and inspires future generations to understand, reflect on, and learn from the past.
Matt Farah
Exhibition Coordinator
Historic New Orleans Collection
New Orleans, Louisiana
Matt Farah is the Exhibitions Coordinator at The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC). After working in the Texas oilfields, he earned his master’s degree in American History from Tulane University and began working at THNOC in 2010 in Visitor Services; he continued on as a reference assistant, archivist, preparator and associate curator. He started in the exhibitions department managing traveling exhibitions prior to becoming exhibitions coordinator in 2019. Matt has presented many professional sessions and workshops at SEMC annual meetings over the years and has been a speaker for SEMC virtual programs including the 2021 Digital Empowerment Project which provided capacitybuilding programs and resources in the areas of digital media and technology for small museums. Matt has served on the SEMC Program Committee since 2017 and was a juror for the 2023 SEMC Exhibition Competition.
Tamara Herring
Executive Director
Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage Ridgeland, South Carolina
Tamara Herring is an accomplished executive with more than 20 years’ experience in the advertising, finance and non-profit industry. She is a detailoriented leader with the proven ability to develop and implement strategies to achieve organizational goals. Since 2018, Tamara has served as the Executive Director at Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, a non-profit museum and cultural arts center located in Ridgeland, SC. Morris Center’s mission is to collect, preserve and interpret the history and culture of the South Carolina Lowcountry by providing learning opportunities to its citizens and visitors. Tamara along with staff and the advisory board ensure the mission is carried out by cultivating community understanding through education, preservation and celebration of the region’s rich cultural heritage and by ensuring the Center welcomes a wide diversity of people who can gather to explore and learn about the area’s distinctive sense of place. Tamara’s primary responsibilities include visioning, planning and developing institutional priorities, systems and activities. No stranger to non-profit work, her role as grant researcher, partnership developer and project coordinator helped to create several communitybased programs for Interstate Urban Consortium,
Inc. and Empowering Youth to Excel and Succeed, Inc. both headquartered in Northern NJ.
Prior to relocating to South Carolina, Tamara managed the onsite financials at the Mall at Short Hills, a Taubman property, in Short Hills, NJ. In this role she managed all accounting functions including accounts payable and receivable, payroll and budget development. Tamara began her career at Dentino Marketing, as an Account Executive. It was here that she honed her project management and client service skills delivering assignments timely and within allocated budgets. Tamara was awarded the South Carolina Governor’s Award for Fresh Voices in Humanities in 2021 and currently serves as the Secretary of both the United Way of the Lowcountry and the Bee Creek Pines Homeowners Association Board of Directors. Tamara is a graduate of the SEMC 2024 Leadership Institute.
Felicia Knise Ingram Head of Interpretation
North Carolina Museum of Art Raleigh, North Carolina
Felicia Knise Ingram is a dedicated arts professional with a master’s degree in Arts Administration and Museum Leadership from Drexel University. As the Manager of Interpretation at the North Carolina
Museum of Art, she leads initiatives to make the museum a welcoming space for all visitors. Felicia collaborates closely with local advocacy groups to ensure accessibility is at the forefront of the museum’s exhibitions and programs. Known for her commitment to inclusivity, she is a strong advocate for creating meaningful and accessible museum experiences for everyone. She is looking forward to teaching about audio description in museums for the second time at the 2025 Jekyll Island Management Institute.
Malone
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Katy Malone is the Manager of Education and Community Engagement at the McClung Museum, which is a part of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She has 18 years of experience in arts administration and cultural non-profit work. For the last 11 years she has worked in museum education in higher-learning institutions. She is the instructor of Introductory Museum Studies for UT’s minor in Museum Studies and provides a master’s level version of the course for UT’s School of Information Sciences. Malone has a BS in Biological Sciences and Chemistry, and an MFA in Studio Arts both from Georgia State University.
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SEMC ANNUAL MEETING
WINNERS OF THE 2024 SEMC MUSEUM PROFESSIONAL AND COMPETITION
The Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) is proud to celebrate the winners of the 2024 James R. Short Award, Museum Leadership Award, Outstanding Service to the Museum Profession Award, and Emerging Museum Professional Award. Winners were chosen from a deep pool of nominees from across the Southeastern United States. The SEMC Awards Committee, chaired by Rosalind Martin and committee members David Butler and Steven Matijcio, honors outstanding colleagues who have helped shape the world of museums.
The 2024 Award recipients were celebrated during the SEMC2024 Annual Meeting Awards Luncheon on October 23, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and included a Leadership Roundtable discussion
moderated by SEMC Executive Director, Zinnia Wililts. Each award recipient was presented with a piece of original artwork (pottery) from Baton Rouge artist, Bill Moore, owner of Treehouse Pottery.
Established by SEMC in 1981, the James R. Short Award recognizes individuals who have given a lifetime (20+ years) of service to the museum profession, with a significant portion of that service at a museum within the SEMC region. It is the most prestigious recognition of service to the museum profession in the southeast. George W. McDaniel, Ph.D., Executive Director Emeritus of Drayton Hall, a historic site in Charleston, South Carolina, and President of McDaniel Consulting, LLC, is the recipient of the 2024 James R. Short Award.
Zinnia Willits moderates the Leadership Roundtable with Heather Wilson and George McDaniel.
James R. Short Award
George W. McDaniel President of McDaniel Consulting, LLC
George W. McDaniel, Ph.D., is the President of McDaniel Consulting, LLC, a strategy firm that helps organizations and museums build bridges within themselves and to their broader constituents. For more than 25 years, he served as the Executive Director of Drayton Hall, a historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Charleston, South Carolina, earning awards at local, state, and national levels. George McDaniel made it his mission to record oral interviews with descendants (both White and Black), board members, donors, staff, and professionals in history, tourism, museums, architecture, and historic preservation. The resulting book, “Drayton Hall Stories: A Place and Its People” presents a mosaic of stories and insights and uses history to bring diverse people together, preserving their words for future generations and offering a place-based strategy that is applicable nationwide.
A native of Atlanta and a former Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo, West Africa, George McDaniel holds a B.A. in history from Sewanee, a Master of Teaching from Brown University, and a Ph.D. in history from Duke University. Interspersed through those years were travels to many places—Europe, Africa, Vietnam—where he saw peace and war and learned about cultural differences and commonalities through experience.
Beginning with the Smithsonian Institution, George McDaniel built a career in education and history museums, earning local, state, and national awards. In addition to his work at Drayton Hall, from 1985 to 1989 he worked with Atlanta History Center as a Director of Education and Public Programs. He is the author of numerous publications, including the essay, Asking Big Questions of Small Places, in Interpreting African American History and Culture at Historic Sites and History Museums. He has presented workshops at conferences on museums, history, education, and historic preservation, and is a nationally respected museum professional and author, who helps organizations to use history, place, and culture to enhance community.
Excerpts from George McDaniel’s nomination letters:
Having known George McDaniel for four decades, I write with pleasure to support him for the SEMC James R. Short Lifetime Achievement Award. Beginning as a student, he has effectively worked for, studied, supported, and led museums. Whether on the national or local level, he has worked to educate the public, build bridges across racial divides, and uplift museums in all their many forms.
George’s innovative approaches, most notably as an advocate of regional preservation and the interpretation of African American history, have become models for museums nationwide. Aspiring for direct feedback from visitors, he periodically gave tours of the house and landscape of Drayton Hall.
Those of us fortunate to work closely with George have seen the impact of his contributions to Drayton Hall’s regional and national premier status — not only as a tourism destination but as a center for learning for students of all ages — a solid foundation that we continue to build upon.
George McDaniel, the 2024 James R. Short Award winner.
Angel Rohnke, 2024 winner of the Outstanding Service to the Museum Profession Award.
Heather Wilson, 2024 winner of the Museum Leadership Award.
Outstanding Service to the Museum Profession Award
Angel
Rohnke
Director
of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science
Initiated in 1999, this award recognizes a leader with 10 or more years of service to an allied or affiliated professional organization. Such a leader will have assisted the museum profession in areas including program organization and long-term cultural development.
Angel Rohnke, Director of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, is the recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Service to the Museum Profession Award.
Angel Rohnke has served as the Director of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science since July 2024 and has worked for The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) and the Museum for 19+ years. Her extensive expertise in conservation, education, tourism, and leadership have contributed to the growth of the museum and LeFleur’s Bluff State Park. She has served as a Museum Educator, Education Coordinator, Assistant Director, and Deputy Administrator. Angel Rohnke holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Interpretation, a B.S. in Environmental Forest Biology, and an A.A.S. in Natural Resources Conservation. She is a dynamic force at MDWFP, and oversaw the creation of the multi-million-dollar LeFleur’s Bluff Playground, Spotter’s Adventure Trail,
The Den, and a new entrance, which have collectively attracted over 350,000 visitors since December 2021. One of Angel Rohnke’s goals for the Museum is to foster a love of the outdoors in the community. Current projects that she is spearheading alongside the talented museum staff include a significant renovation project and a comprehensive branding update that reflects the museum’s mission and values. Angel Rohnke’s contributions to conservation, education, and tourism have been recognized by her peers with numerous awards including the Mississippi Science Teachers Association Outstanding Informal Educator of the Year, Mississippi Wildlife Federation Conservation Educator of the Year, Finger Lakes Community College Outstanding Conservation Alumni Achievement Award, Rudolph J.H. Schafer Outstanding Coordinator Award from the Council for Environmental Education and Hometown Hero award from Visit Jackson.
Excerpts from Angel Rohnke’s nomination letters:
Angel’s career at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science has enriched the museum with her distinguished educational credentials and her encouraging spirit. The entire team believes this award would be fitting for the excellent years she has given to the museum.
Through her vision and perseverance, Angel worked to acquire a 3.86 million dollar grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, which funded the construction of the LeFleur’s Bluff Playground and Spotters Adventure Trail. This contribution to the City of Jackson, Mississippi helped to enhance visitation and awareness of museums in the LeFleur Bluff Museum District.
At the Museum of Natural Science, we are excited about Angel’s new role as Director and know that her drive, optimism, and experience will take us to new heights!
Museum Leadership Award
Heather Wilson
Executive
Director
of the Cameron Art Museum
Initiated in 1994, this award recognizes mid-career museum professionals who have shown significant advancement within the profession by leadership in museum activities at his or her institution, within the museum profession as a whole, and especially in the southeast region.
Heather Wilson, Executive Director of the Cameron Art Museum, in Wilmington, North Carolina is the recipient of the 2024 Museum Leadership Award.
Heather Wilson became Executive Director of the Cameron Art Museum (CAM) in June 2023. She had been serving as Deputy Director since 2019 and started at the museum in 2006 when she was hired as a development officer. With a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and a master of fine arts from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), Heather Wilson has brought a range of expertise and skills to the Cameron Art Museum including work in the publishing industry as an editor at Houghton Mifflin Company in Boston. At UNCW, she co-founded the nationally known literary journal, Ecotone, and has continued to author numerous publications and articles. In recent years, Wilson led a needs assessment for CAM’s programming, was the project director for the PNC US Colored Troops Park and Stephen Hayes’s sculpture, Boundless, and oversaw the museum’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
and accessibility plan. Heather Wilson started CAM’s Connections programs for those living with dementia and disability, as well as the Art Enhances Health program for those being treated for cancer at Zimmer Cancer Center. Her focus as Director has been to make the Cameron Art Museum an inclusive cultural gathering place for the entire community; many residents have praised her work, calling CAM the most inclusive place in the county. She has procured many grants for the Cameron Art Museum, including funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Institute of Museum and Library Services, and PNC Bank. She has presented the Cameron Art Museum’s work at national and regional conferences, including the American Alliance for Museums and the Southeastern Museums Conference. Heather Wilson also served on the Public Arts Advisory Council for the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and is currently working on a history book about the Cameron Art Museum.
Excerpts from Heather Wilson’s nomination letters:
Heather’s vision and leadership in bridging the gap between the art museum and the historic site with Boundless, a work of contemporary art by African American artist Stephen Hayes, has led to new and exciting developments within the museum’s practice, deepening the museum’s connection to the community. Boundless features the live cast faces of descendants of the United States Colored Troops, reenactors, and US military veterans. By elevating the little-known story of 1,820 African American soldiers who fought for their freedom where the museum now stands, Heather showed her fierce commitment through the work of the museum to bring people together and highlight the lives of those whose stories have been suppressed.
Heather’s willingness to collaborate with others and her expansive vision make her a key leader within the museum community in Southeastern North Carolina. Heather’s work at CAM and in our region has increased inclusivity, improved quality of life, and united communities through the arts.
As the Executive Director of the premier art museum in our area, she has consistently brought programming that is approachable, educational, and moving. Heather’s work exemplifies what museums can and must do to bring our communities together and tell unique stories that represent
the people and populations they serve. It is Heather Wilson’s knowledge, passion, intuitive programming, and vision that make her an ideal candidate for the Museum Leadership Award for Southeastern Museums.
Emerging ProfessionalMuseum Award
Timia Thompson Collections Outreach Manager, South Carolina State Museum
Initiated in 2007, this award recognizes emerging professionals who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in museum activities at their institutions, within the museum profession, and especially in the southeast region.
Timia Thompson, Collections Outreach Manager at the South Carolina State Museum, is the recipient of the 2024 Emerging Museum Professionals Award.
Timia D. Thompson is the Collections Outreach Manager at the South Carolina State Museum, where she oversees the Museum’s Traveling Exhibition Program, manages Image/Video Rights and Reproduction Requests, and acts as the Field Services Outreach Manager for the South Carolina Federation of Museums (SCFM). Before her current role in collections, she specialized in informal education, serving as Education Outreach Manager, Coordinator of
Homeschool Programs, and Natural History Education Manager. Timia Thompson holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a minor in English from the University of Florida, and a Master of Science in Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management with a focus on natural resource management, the sociology of inequality, and geographies of exclusion from North Carolina State University. Her diverse background includes work in nonprofits, government agencies, and academia as an adjunct and assistant professor. Timia Thompson has served on the SEMC Program Committee for several years and was the 2023 Program Committee Chair.
Excerpts from Timia Thompson’s nomination letters:
As the SEMC Program Committee Co-Chair, Timia not only assisted by selecting sessions for inclusion in the annual meeting program, but also played a leading role in conducting the meeting to ensure the program was inclusive, diverse, and well-rounded. Ms. Thompson displayed a tremendous sense of leadership and calmness during the long hours of spirited discussion. She was able to bring reason and direction to our discussions, therefore, helping us come to neutral and unbiased outcomes. A productive meeting requires a leader who can guide without overpowering and offer critique without undermining others. Ms. Thompson exemplified these qualities and more.
Timia has worked closely with statewide museums and cultural organizations to provide exhibitions from our Traveling Exhibitions Program. This program provides unique exhibitions to organizations across the state, helping us stay connected with these institutions and their communities. At times, these institutions need technical assistance, and Timia has always stepped in and found ways to work with the organizations so that they can showcase these important exhibitions for their community.
As Past President of the South Carolina Federation of Museums, I worked closely with Timia in her position as Field Services Outreach Manager for SCFM. She always worked diligently to make things happen for the organization on top of her other duties as Collections Outreach Manager for the South Carolina State Museum. She managed the website, social media, and organized the annual conference. Above all, Timia exemplifies her love
for the museum profession. She has always done her best to promote not only her museum but the rest of the museums in South Carolina. She has fresh ideas to move museums
into the future. Her passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the museum field shows greatly in her work. She wants museums and the profession to be accessible to all!
Timia Thompson, 2024 winner of the Emerging Museum Professional Award.
Each year SEMC is proud to highlight museums and museum professionals that have shown consistent resilience, grace, courage, creativity, scholarship, and technological savvy. Whether celebrating forwardthinking, inclusive exhibitions, brilliantly designed museum publications, or a social media campaign that stopped your scroll, all the 2024 competition winners are to be congratulated for truly inspiring projects that deserve widespread recognition.
SEMC’s 2024 Exhibition Competition Winners
Under $10,000 Budget
Gold: Deep Roots: Evocations of the Mississippi Blues, Baldwin Photographic Gallery
Silver: Women Fashioning Women, LSU Textile and Costume Museum
Bronze: The Men Will Always Be There: Edward Steichen and the Naval Photographic Unit, Patriot’s Point Naval and Maritime Museum
Under $25,000 Budget
Honorable Mention: Niche Knits: The Interlooped History of Hosiery Textiles and Fashion, Gaston County Museum of Art and History
Over $25,000 Budget
Gold: And We Went: 60 Years After the Baton Rouge Swim-In, Baton Rouge Gallery, Center for Contemporary Art
Silver: “Yet She is Advancing”: New Orleans Women and the Right To Vote, 1878-1970, The Historic New Orleans Collection
Bronze: Spark of the Eagle Dancer: The Collecting Legacy of Lambert Wilson, Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum
Baldwin Photographic Gallery’s Deep Roots
Baton Rouge Gallery’s And We Went
Baton Rouge Gallery staff and supporters celebrate their award.
Over $100,000 Budget
Gold: A Grand Menagerie: The Sculpture of Anna Hyatt
Huntington, Mary M. Torggler Fine Arts Center
Silver: Everyday People: Snapshots of the Black Experience, Memphis Museum of Science and History (MOSH)
Bronze: Black Codes: Art and Post Civil-Rights
Alabama, The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn
Honorable Mention: 120: Cool KY Counties, Frazier History Museum
Many thanks to the 2024 Exhibition Competition Chair and Jurors: Michelle Schulte (Chair), Chief Curator and Director of Public Programs, LSU Museum of Art at the Shaw Center for the Arts; Maria Kelly, Assistant Curator of Photography, High Museum of Art; Ben Hickey, Director, CEPA Gallery, Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Arts; Natalie Mault Mead, Chief Curator, Huntsville Museum of Art; Raka Nandi, Director of Exhibitions and Collections, Memphis Museum of Science and History; Chase Tomlin, Associate Curator, The National WWII Museum; Erika Witt, Director and Chief Curator, Southern University of New Orleans Museum of Art.
SEMC’s 2024 Publication Competition Winners
BEST IN SHOW
Art Talk Newsletter, LSU Museum of Art at the Shaw Center for the Arts
ANNUAL REPORTS
Gold: LSU Museum of Art, Baton Rouge, LA
Silver: Scott Family Amazeum, Bentonville, AR
Bronze: Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, SC
BOOKS & CATALOGUES
Gold: SWOON, Taubman Museum of Art
Silver: George Gershwin and Modern Art: A Rhapsody in Blue, Artis-Naples, The Baker Museum
Bronze: Louisiana Lens: Photographs from the Historic New Orleans Collection, The Historic New Orleans Collection
BROCHURES
Gold: Visit the Georgia Museum of Art, Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia
Silver: Pollinator Garden Guide, President James K. Polk State Historic Site
Bronze: Whitfield Lovell: Passages Exhibition Brochure, The Mint Museum
Mary M. Torggler Fine Arts Center’s A Grand Menagerie
Best in show; Gold, magazines & newsletters: Art Talk Newsletter, LSU Museum of Art.
Gold, annual reports: LSU Museum of Art.
Gold, books & catalogues: SWOON, Taubman Museum of Art.
Gold, brochures: Visit the Georgia Museum of Art, Georgia Museum of Art.
CAMPAIGNS
Gold: Museum of the Cherokee People’s Rebranding Campaign, Museum of the Cherokee People
Silver: 2023 Potters Market at the Mint, The Mint Museum
Bronze: Flying High 39 Campaign, Customs House Museum & Cultural Center
GALLERY GUIDES
Gold: Where Shadows Cross, Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia
Silver: BABENGA: The Sacred Forest Gallery Guide, Gregg Museum of Art & Design
Bronze: Two Mississippi Museums Family Guide, Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Honorable Mention: Power Couple, Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia
INVITATIONS
Gold: Something Terrible May Happen, Gibbes Museum of Art
Silver: Kings & Queens Gala, Marco Island Historical Society
Bronze: The Mint Museum Coveted Couture Gala Invitation, The Mint Museum
Gold, campaigns: Museum of the Cherokee People's Rebranding Campaign.
Gold, gallery guides: Where Shadows Cross, Georgia Museum of Art.
Gold, invitations: Something Terrible May Happen, Gibbes Museum of Art.
Gold, mailers & calendars of events: 2023–2024 Academic Calendar Mailers, The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Gold, posters: Juneteenth Poster, Customs House Museum & Cultural Center.
MAGAZINES & NEWSLETTERS
Gold: Art Talk Newsletter, LSU Museum of Art
Silver: Inspired: The Mint Museum Magazine, The Mint Museum
Bronze: Second and Commerce July 2023 – June 2024, Customs House Museum & Cultural Center
Honorable Mention: The Historic New Orleans Collection Quarterly, The Historic New Orleans Collection
MAILERS & CALENDARS OF EVENTS
Gold: 2023-2024 Academic Calendar Mailers, The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University
Silver: School and Teacher Programs, The Mint Museum
Bronze: Exhibit Opening Postcards: Art Deco Glass, VIVID, Networked Nature, and Gilded, Hunter Museum of American Art
POSTERS
Gold: Juneteenth Poster, Customs House Museum & Cultural Center
Silver: Two Mississippi Museums Maker’s Fest Poster, Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Bronze: The Art of Food Poster, Artis-Naples, The Baker Museum
Many thanks to the 2024 Publication Competition
Chair and Jurors: Christian Edwards (Chair), Assistant Keeper, NC Collection Gallery, Raleigh, NC; Linda Jacobson, Keeper, NC Collection Gallery; Rachel Reynolds, Exhibits Coordinator, Wilson Library; Stephen Fletcher, NC Photo Archivist, NC Collection; Jason Tomberlin, Head of Research and Information Services, Wilson Library; Bob Schriener, Numismatist, NC Collection Gallery; Cory Edwards, Owner, Chatham Milling Company; Katie Murphy, IMLS Graduate Student, UNC ’25; Annika Duneja, Student, UNC ’26; Claire Scott Stevens, Student, UNC ’28.
SEMC’s 2024 CompetitionTechnology
Winners
DIGITAL EDUCATION
Under $1,000 Budget
Gold: Polk Historic Cemetery, President James K. Polk State Historic Site
Over $10,000 Budget
Gold: NCMA Explore, North Carolina Museum of Art
Silver: MDAH Digital Snapshots, Mississippi Department of Archives and History
DIGITAL MARKETING
Under $1,000 Budget
Gold: Networked Nature Social Media Campaign, Hunter Museum of American Art
Over $10,000 Budget
Gold: Blog, Customs House Museum and Cultural Center
Gold, digital education: Polk Historic Cemetery, President James K. Polk Historic Site.
Gold, digital education: NCMA Explore, North Carolina Museum of Art.
Gold, digital marketing: Networked Nature, Hunter Museum of American Art.
Gold, digital marketing: Blog, Customs House Museum and Cultural Center.
GALLERY INSTALLATIONS
Under $1,000 Budget
Gold: Champagne and Chocolate Digital Sign, Customs House Museum and Cultural Center
Silver: Flying High Digital Sign, Customs House Museum and Cultural Center
Silver: Family Album Series, Hunter Museum of American Art
Bronze: Museum at 40 Digital Sign, Customs House Museum and Cultural Center
MEDIA PRODUCTION
Under $1,000 Budget
Gold: A Monday Moment with Art: The Porter Children, Customs House Museum and Cultural Center
Bronze: Museum at 40Video, Customs House Museum and Cultural Center
$5,000–$9,999 Budget
Gold: The Jule Museum Podcast, The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art at Auburn
Over $10,000 Budget
Gold: Blue Planet Theater at Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center
Bronze: The Inaugural Auburn Forum for Southern Art and Culture, The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art at Auburn
Bronze: The Jule at 20, The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art at Auburn
VIRTUAL MEDIA
Under $1,000 Budget
Gold: Mural Stop Motion, Hunter Museum of American Art
Gold, gallery installations: Champagne and Chocolate Digital Sign, Customs House Museum and Cultural Center.
Gold, media production: A Monday Moment with Art, Customs House Museum and Cultural Center.
Gold, media production: The Jule Museum Podcast, The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art at Auburn..
Gold, media production: Blue Planet Theater at Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center.
$1,001–$4,999 Budget
Gold: Spanish Translation QR Codes, Hunter Museum of American Art
Many thanks to the 2024 Technology Competition Committee: Scotty Almany (Jury Foreman), Deputy Director of Operations and Project Management, Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, VA; Leslie Leonard (Juror), Administrator, North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program, Raleigh, NC; Scott Warren (Chair), Historic Site Manager II, President James K. Polk State Historic Site, Pineville, NC.
Gold, virtual media: Mural Stop Motion, Hunter Museum of American Art.
Gold, virtual media: Spanish Translation QR Codes, Hunter Museum of American Art.
SEMC’s 2024 SWIM Competition Winners
University students throughout our region are engaged in challenging and important work in southeastern museums. They are doing research, producing exhibits, conducting oral history interviews, creating content for websites, and developing public programs. SEMC is committed to recognizing and rewarding excellence in museum work done by students through the annual Spotlight on Student Work in Museums (SWIM) competition.
An Overview of Creating a Community Driven Accessibility Plan at the Knoxville Museum of Art
Sean Burke
Knoxville Museum of Art, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
NAGPRA Data Management: Image Redaction Policy
Noah Safari McKissick Museum, University of South Carolina, Columbia
Musings: The Curatorial Product of Four Undergraduate Students
Hailey Neaman and Aislinn Niimi Museums at Washington and Lee, Washington and Lee University
Conducting Accessible WWII Summer Camp Programming for Grades 3-8
Ann Crabtree, Dorothy Gray, and Ani Mitchell
The National WWII Museum, Louisiana State University
Shepard Fairey: Facing the Giant: Three Decades of Dissent
Jillian Abel and Emma Bassett McKissick Museum, University of South Carolina, Columbia
Temporal and spatial analyses of stable isotope ecology in the Common Nighthawk (Chordelies minor)
Amanda Harvey
Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Sciences (LSUMNS), Louisiana State University
SEMC 2024 ANNUAL MEETING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
SEMC’s 2024 Annual Meeting Scholarship Recipients
Congratulations to all 2024 travel scholarship recipients! Scholarship recipients were recognized at the SEMC2024 Annual Awards Luncheon in Baton Rouge. SEMC Travel Scholarships are supported by the SEMC Alderson Endowment, individual donations, and proceeds from SEMC’s 2023 walking and running tours. Additional SEMC2024 scholarships were funded by the State of Louisiana and administered by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. The 2024 SEMC Scholarship Committee was Chaired by Deborah VanHorn. SEMC thanks the following organizations and individuals for additional 2024 Scholarship Support: State of Louisiana/Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, Scott Warren and Matt Davis (President’s Scholarship).
SEMC 2024 TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIPS
African American Museum Professional
Courtney Bradford, Curator, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Little Rock, AR
Terri White, President and CEO, Charlotte Museum of History, Charlotte, NC
Emerging Museum Professional
Connor Humphrey, Parks Museum Curator, John
James Audubon State Park, Henderson, KY
Jacob Wike, Education Coordinator, Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, Ridgeland, SC
Historic House Museum Professional
Franklin De La Cruz, Education Programs Coordinator, Mound House Museum, Fort Myers Beach, FL Students
Sarah Campbell, Student, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
Sabrina Jeffcoat, Ph.D Student, University at Albany, Charleston, SC
Small Museum Professional
Louis De La Cruz, Visitor Engagement Coordinator, Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, Ridgeland, SC
Seasoned Museum Professional
Loran Berg, Collections Manager, Mountain Heritage Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC
2024 PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARSHIP
Anne Duquennois, Videographer and Visual Communication Designer, New Orleans, LA
LOUISIANA ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIPS
Anna Kojevnikov, Community Development Manager, Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA
Joan Garner, Tour Guide, West Baton Rouge Museum, Baton Rouge, LA
Elista Istre, Founder and Director, Belle Heritage, LLC, Lafayette, LA
Misty Taylor, Collections and Exhibitions Manager, Hilliard Art Museum, Lafayette, LA
ScholarshipReflectionsRecipient
What was your favorite part of the 2024 Annual Meeting?
Anne Duquennois, Videographer and Visual Communication Designer, New Orleans, LA
I loved my experience at SEMC and I am very grateful for the scholarship that allowed me to participate in the events and sessions. My top three favorite SEMC2024 memories are the roasting and truth talking at the Table Talk, the twinkling lit up trees at the LSU Rural Life Museum and having the opportunity to host a great discussion about AI at the session I co-lead. It's really hard to choose one memory!
Connor Humphrey, Parks Museum Curator, John James Audubon State Park, Henderson, KY
For me, the session on collections management was the best part of SEMC. It provided me with valuable information, several contacts in similar museums, and an understanding that I am not the only one who faces the issues in collections management that we discussed. The evening events provided unique opportunities to network and see many ways to improve my own museum. When you are the only staff member in a museum, the work can seem overwhelming and projects appear unattainable. Despite this, SEMC gave me insights on how to accomplish the large tasks and to approach the smaller tasks as ongoing work.
Elista Istre, Founder and Director, Belle Heritage, LLC, Lafayette, LA
I really appreciated having the opportunity to get a professional headshot taken. That was such a practical and useful service SEMC provided to attendees. Perhaps the most memorable session of the entire conference for me was the panel discussion of prior museum professionals who left their not-for-profit jobs in favor of the corporate world. To have an organization not only acknowledge some of the challenges facing the field, but also to have them willing to openly and honestly discuss those painful realities at a conference speaks volumes. I was impressed by the willingness of SEMC to address relevant issues through transparent conversations in hopes of offering solutions.
Jacob Wike, Education Coordinator, Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, Ridgeland, SC
I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of SEMC2024! SEMC2024 provided me with a unique opportunity to network with other museum professionals and exchange ideas with others to help improve my museum. Additionally, I thought the sessions were extremely helpful and gave me valuable insights and new perspectives concerning important museum topics. Lastly, I loved the events and food!
Franklin De La Cruz, Education Programs Coordinator, Mound House Museum, Fort Myers Beach, FL
To pinpoint a specific memory that stands out the most for such a welcoming conference like SEMC2024 is difficult. The entire conference felt more like a multipleday excursion amongst new friends rather than a traditional conference considering how well-curated the panels, presenters, activities, and experiences were. I left SEMC2024 feeling motivated by the engagement with the cultural institutions and community in Baton Rouge. This is unique to SEMC, at least in my experience, as the dichotomy between conferences and their host cities is often palpable. Besides the incredible examples of community in museums facilitated by such engagement, I will always remember the connections I made at SEMC2024. It truly felt like I was in community and building connections that motivated me to assess
how I could replicate the warmth that SEMC2024 cultivated. Establishing a network of people so willing to support and engage with my curiosities and concerns as someone new to the field was an invaluable and formative experience.
Loran Berg, Collections Manager, Mountain Heritage Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC
I think what is the most significant aspect of attending the SEMC regional conference is the importance of gathering with fellow colleagues to build the relationships that connect us all. I teach collections management to students, and I continually stress that the relationships they build will be with them throughout their professional careers, and you can never know in what ways those may affect your future. Personally and professionally, I have built many treasured relationships over the years, and so much of it begins by attending a conference and making a new friend.
Louis De La Cruz, Visitor Engagement Coordinator, Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, Ridgeland, SC
Being part of SEMC2024 was a great experience. As a museum professional I have never had the chance to participate in a conference like this where everyone is excited to engage and participate with others. For me, the best part of SEMC2024 was the confidence it gave me about my place in the profession. Getting the
chance to meet so many museum professionals boosted me up and made me realize that I’m definitely on the right path. We all seek similar things for our museums and the future of this industry and I’m excited to be part of the change.
Misty Taylor, Collections and Exhibitions Manager, Hilliard Art Museum, Lafayette, LA
SEMC 2024 was a blast. I experienced so many favorites that it’s hard to single out just one event. The in-person networking was a highlight, allowing me to connect with museum professionals I typically only interact with via email, making those relationships more personal and meaningful. I also cherished reconnecting with my former cohorts and mentor through dinners, which added a special touch to the experience. The conference’s location in the heart of Baton Rouge’s museum district was perfect, with convenient access to multiple museums just a short walk or ride away. The sessions were particularly impactful this year—each one seemed tailored to my professional experiences, from behind-the-scenes tours to discussions on AI in museums. For the first time, I felt at home at a conference, something I have never said before.
Sabrina Jeffcoat, Ph.D Student, University at Albany, Charleston, SC
My favorite SEMC2024 memory is being able to see and experience the various cultural aspects of Baton Rouge,
LA while attending the conference. The people, sessions, social events and food all enhanced my overall conference experience. While many times, it feels as if conferences simply exist within a location, SEMC20204 really incorporated the host city in the planning and execution of the regional conference. I look forward to seeing what SEMC2025 in Montgomery, Alabama has to offer next year!
Joan Katherine Lillian Garner, Tour Guide, West Baton Rouge Museum, Baton Rouge, LA
I am appreciative that SEMC hosted its conference in Baton Rouge, LA. As a native Louisianian, I truly appreciated the showcasing of our culture, inclusive of the Second Line, food and music. SEMC included an African American Walking Tour, which was my most memorable experience at the conference because it was life changing. This allowed me the opportunity to do my first walking tour that included the marker that I unveiled in Downtown Baton Rouge as a descendant of the Baton Rouge Sit-Ins resulting in the significant U.S. Supreme Court case Garner v. Louisiana. At the conclusion of the tour Ashley Shoptaugh, who co-led the tour with me, provided tour evaluation forms. The responses included feedback such as “I loved having a descendant give the tour. It was personal. I loved the tour.” I am grateful for the encouragement that was provided from the participants of the walking tour and grateful to SEMC in supporting the work that I am engaged in as a museum professional and descendant in preserving this history.
Courtney Bradford, Curator, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Little Rock, AR
If I could describe my experience at SEMC 2024 in one word, it would be transformative. I was able to sit in on sessions that truly changed the way I approached my job within my museum and motivated me to continue to push forward on my personal goals within the profession. For the first time, I was able to network with new colleagues on a different level than before. By the time I left Baton Rouge, my heart was filled, and I was ready to hit the ground running when I came back home. Thank you for extending an opportunity for me to attend this conference, it was truly impactful.
Terri White, President and CEO, Charlotte History Museum, Charlotte, NC
Anna Kojevnikov, Community Development, Manager, Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA
THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 EXHIBITORS, SPONSORS, AND
HOSTS
SEMC Expo Hall Industry Partners
1220 Exhibits
Art Display Essentials, a 10-31 Company (Bronze Sponsor)
A4A
Art2Art Circulating Exhibitions
Art Bridges Foundation (Bronze Sponsor)
Art Sentry
Available Light
BSM Museum
CatalogIt
Collector Systems, LLC (Silver Sponsor)
Conserv (Bronze Sponsor)
Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts
CSR Consulting Services
Delta Designs
Donning Company Publishers
Donorly
Dorfman Museum Figures, Inc.
ERCO Lighting, Inc. (Bronze Sponsor)
Exhibit Concepts, Inc.
Experience Montgomery EXPLUS
Friesens (Bronze Sponsor)
Gaylord Archival
Goosepen Studio & Press
Haizlip Studio (Bronze Sponsor)
Halumin™ - Open Cylindrical™ Photography Lighting
HealyKohler Design
Hollinger Metal Edge, Inc.
HW Exhibits
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Interactive Knowledge
Lucidea
MBA Design and Display Products, Inc.
Myriad Consulting and Training
Northeast Document Conservation Center
Odyssey Preservation Software
Page Architects
Patterson Pope
Porter Art Services
Re:Discovery Software, Inc.
Relative Scale
Riggs Ward Design
Risk Strategies (Gold Sponsor)
Shibui Design
Solid Light, Inc (Silver Sponsor)
Studio Art Quilt Associates
The Design Minds, Inc.
Tour-Mate Systems, LTD
TransformIt
Universal Fiber Optic Lighting
U.S. Art Company
Warner Museums
WTW - Fine Art, Jewelry & Specie
WonderWorld Video and Creative
Zone Display Cases
SEMC 2024 Sponsors and Committees
CONFERENCE SPONSORS
PLATINUM SPONSORS
State of Louisiana/Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (General Conference Support)
National Museum of African American History and Culture - Office of Strategic Partnerships (Event Management)
GOLD SPONSORS
Our Fundraising Search (Expo Receptions)
Risk Strategies (Directors Luncheon)
Visit Baton Rouge (Conference Tote Bags and Transportation)
SILVER SPONSORS
Atelier 4 (Annual Awards Luncheon)
Collector Systems (Conference Lanyards)
Compass Group (Expo Reception Bars)
Solid Light (Attendee Headshots)
BRONZE SPONSORS
10-31 A Family Company (Expo Receptions)
Art Bridges Foundation (Educators Luncheon)
Bonsai Fine Arts (Conference T-Shirt)
Conserv (SERA Business Luncheon)
ERCO Lighting, Inc. (Expo Receptions)
Friesens (Annual Meeting Program Printing)
Haizlip Studio (Evening Event - Louisiana Art and Science Museum)
Monadnock (Expo Coffee Break)
Shiloh Museum of Ozark History (Expo Coffee Break)
2024 ANNUAL MEETING SUPPORTERS
Capitol Park Museum
Louisiana Art and Science Museum
Louisiana Old State Capitol
Louisiana Old Governor’s Mansion
LSU Museum of Art
LSU Rural Life Museum
LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE
Baton Rouge, Louisiana Host Committee Chair
Michelle Schulte, LSU Museum of Art
Baton Rouge, Louisiana Host Committee
Geraldine Bordelon, Visit Baton Rouge
John Sykes, Magnolia Mound
Bill Stark, LSU Rural Life Museum
Mary Durusau, Louisiana Old State Capitol
Holly Talley, LA Department of Veterans Affairs
Jason Andreasen, Baton Rouge Gallery
Christina Melton, Knock Knock Children’s Museum
Amanda Moak, West Baton Rouge Museum
Michael Mamp, LSU Textile and Costume Museum
Tracey Barhorst, Louisiana Arts and Science Museum
Anna Gasperecz, Visit Baton Rouge
Angela Proctor, Southern University and A&M College
Darryl Hambrick, River Road African American Museum
Jennifer Dyer, Louisiana Association of Museums/ Maritime Museum Louisiana
Jennae Biddiscombe, Louisiana Association of Museums/LA Sports Hall of Fame
Anne Mahoney, Capitol Park Museum
SEMC 2024 Annual Meeting Event Hosts
EVENING EVENT/OFF-SITE TOUR/ PROGRAM/ WORKSHOP HOST MUSEUMS AND SITES
LSU Museum of Art
Louisiana Art and Science Museum
Louisiana Old State Capitol Museum
Louisiana Old Governor’s Mansion
LSU Rural Life Museum
Capitol Park Museum
LSU University Museums
Textile and Costume Museum
William A. Brookshire Military Museum
LSU Archives
LSU Campus Mounds
LSU Tiger Stadium
Whitney Plantation, Edgard Louisiana
Oak Alley Plantation, Vacherie, Louisiana
The National World War II Museum, New Orleans, Louisiana
The Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans, Louisiana
Looking at Baton Rouge African American Walking Tour (Joan Garner)
Downtown Cultural Landscapes Walking Tour (Anne Mahoney)
SEMC is grateful to Michael Lachowski (Public Relations for the Georgia Museum of Art) for capturing images of SEMC2024. Feel free to download and share! Credit can go to: Michael Lachowski, Georgia Museum of Art, for SEMC.
Many thanks to our endowment contributors this year (January 1, 2024 – December 15, 2024) for investing in the future of SEMC!
When you are thinking of honoring or remembering someone, please consider a contribution to the SEMC endowment. For more information, contact Executive Director
Zinnia Willits at 404.814.2048 or zwillits@semcdirect.net.
Anonymous,
in honor of Graig Shaak
George Bassi
Charles (Tom) Butler
David Butler
Mary Hauser
Michael Hudson
Elise LeCompte
Darcie MacMahon
Nathan Moehlmann
Rosalind Martin
Doug Noble
Vicky L. Kruckeberg
and Carl R. Nold
Willam Paul, Jr.
Graig Shaak
Robert and Nancy Sullivan
Kristen Miller Zohn
Zinnia Willits
THE PAST PRESIDENTS CIRCLE
Members of the Past Presidents Circle contribute $150 annually for at least two years to the endowment fund:
George Bassi
Sharon Bennett
David Butler
Charles “Tom” Butler
Tamra Sindler Carboni
Matt Davis
Micheal A. Hudson
Darcie MacMahon
Douglas Noble
Robert Rathburn
Graig D. Shaak
Robert Sullivan
Heather Marie Wells
Zinnia Willits
Kristen Miller Zohn
THE WILLIAM T. AND SYLVIA F. ALDERSON ENDOWMENT FELLOWS
Many SEMC supporters have made commitments of distinction as Alderson Fellows. Their investment of at least $1,000 each is a significant leadership gift, reflective of a personal commitment to the professional association that has meant so much to each of them.
SEMC council member Katie Ericson-Bakin, former member James Quint, and new member Matt Farah at the SEMC 2024 annual meeting.
Platinum Alderson Fellows
(minimum $5,000)
Sylvia F. Alderson
Bob Rathburn
Graig D. Shaak
Nancy & Robert Sullivan
Medallion Alderson Fellows
(minimum $2,500)
George Bassi
Sharon Bennett
David Butler
Tamra Sindler Carboni
William U. Eiland
Martha Battle Jackson
Pamela Meister
Richard Waterhouse
Alderson Fellows
(minimum $1,000)
Alexander Benitez
T. Patrick Brennan
Michael Brothers
W. James Burns
Matthew Davis
Horace Harmon
Brian Hicks
Pamela Hisey
Micheal Hudson
Kathleen Hutton
Rick Jackson
Andrew Ladis
John Lancaster
Elise LeCompte
Allyn Lord
Michael Anne Lynn ( continued)
R. Andrew Maass
Darcie MacMahon
Rosalind Martin
Nathan Moehlmann
Susan Perry
Robin Seage Person
Robin Reed
Allison Reid
Steve Rucker
Michelle Schulte
Ahmad Ward
Michael Scott Warren
Heather Marie Wells
Kristen Miller Zohn
Other SEMC
Contributions (Jan. 1 – Dec. 15, 2024)
ANNUAL MEETING SCHOLARSHIPS
Matthew Davis
Danielle Hatch
Heather Nowak
Ashleigh Oatts
Michael (Scott) Warren State of Louisiana/Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities
GENERAL OPERATING
Scott Alvey
Bonsai Fine Art
Rebecca Bush
California Association of Museums
India Crawford
Anonymous Donation in Memory of Mr. Eddie Davis in honor of his son, Matthew Davis
Matthew Davis
Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
Hutchinson Design Group
Kentucky Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
Tamara Herring
Kyle Hutchinson and John Parker
Dr. Calinda Lee
Christa McCay
Heather Nowak
Our Fundraising Search
Lauren Pacheco
Catherine Pears
Susan Perry
Patterson Pope
Michelle Schulte
Michael Scott
Melissa Swindell
Deborah Rose Van Horn
Ahmad Ward
Heather Marie Wells
Lance Wheeler
Crystal Wimer
2024 LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
Association of African American Museums
Tafeni English
National Museum of African American History and Culture – Office of Strategic Partnerships
Smithsonian, Our Shared Future: Reckoning with our Racial Past
Lance Wheeler
HANDUMY JEAN TAHAN INTERNSHIP FUND
Rebecca Bush
Elise LeCompte
Tricia Miller
Joy Tahan Ruddell
Joshua Whitfield
LAPAGLIA FUND
Elise LeCompte
MARTHA BATTLE JACKSON JIMI FUND
Angie Albright
Anonymous donation in memory of Emma Delean Taylor in honor of her daughter Deitrah Taylor
SEMC Active Memberships
SEMC thanks all our active members, including those who have recently joined (in bold). Without your support and participation, we could not provide region wide services such as our awards, and scholarship programs, as well as our outstanding Annual Meetings and nationally acclaimed Jekyll Island Management Institute. If you are an individual member and your museum is not an institutional member, please encourage them to join. For information on memberships and benefits visit semcdirect.net, email memberservices@semcdirect.net, or call 404.814.2047. For your convenience, the last page of this newsletter is a membership application.
CSI PerfectFit ™ and Transporter* systems are changing the way collections are organized, stored and moved.
The easy to assemble, CSI PerfectFit™ moving painting storage comes as a kit and requires no loading dock or freight elevator.
CSI Transporter systems arrive fully assembled. Their superior maneuverability makes them ideal for tight confines.
Both are precision-engineered of lightweight, non-outgassing aluminum and available in standard and customized configurations for museums, private collections, labs, and historic houses. Visit our website for demonstration videos and features on our full line of systems.
Bandy Heritage Center for Northwest Georgia, Dalton, Georgia
C.Williams Rush Museum of African-American Arts & Culture, Kingstree, South Carolina
Caldwell Heritage Museum, Lenoir, North Carolina
Calico Rock Community Foundation, Calico Rock, AR
Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, North Carolina
Carnegie Center for Art and History, New Albany, IN
Carter-Coile Country Doctors Museum, Winterville, Georgia
Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina
Clemson University’s Bob Campbell Geology Museum, Clemson, South Carolina
Conrad-Caldwell House Museum, Louisville, Kentucky
Creative Liberties Artist Studios & Galleries, Sarasota, Florida
Doral Contemporary Art Museum, Doral, Florida
Doris Ulmann Galleries and Berea College Art Collection, Brea, Kentucky
Drayton Hall, Charleston, South Carolina
Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin, Florida
Eleanor D. Wilson Museum at Hollins University, Roanoke, Virginia
Gainesboro Modern, Gainesboro, Tennessee
TCI is always an advocate for the needs and requirements of museum collections care. Our goal is to form relationships with our clients and their collections in order to provide safe and affordable services. Combining professional knowledge of museum standards and best practices in fine art packing, shipping, and installation, the TCI team is your single point of contact for “shipping made simple.”
Gaston County Museum of Art & History, Dallas, North Carolina
Georgia Writers Museum, Eatonton, Georgia
Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, Virginia
Hapeville Depot Museum, Hapeville, Georgia
Historic Augusta, Inc., Augusta, Georgia
Historic Cane Hill, Inc., Cane Hill, AR
Historic Dumfries Virginia & The Weems-Botts Museum, Dumfries, Virginia
HistoryMiami, Miami, Florida
International Arts Center, Troy, Alabama
International Towing & Recovery Museum, Chattanooga, Tennessee
KMassachusettsC Museum, Louisville, Kentucky
Lam Museum of Anthropology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Louisiana State University Textile & Costume Museum, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
Maier Museum of Art, Randolph College, Lynchburg, Virginia
Mandarin Museum & Historical Society, Jacksonville, Florida
* Transportation
*Crating/packing
*Installation
*Airfreight
*Customs
*Rigging
*Coordination
*Insurance
Marine Corps Museum Parris Island, Parris Island, South Carolina
Maritime Museum Louisiana, Madisonville, Louisiana
Marlboro County Museum, Bennettsville, South Carolina
Mather Museum & Interpretive Center, Beaufort, South Carolina
Mountain Heritage Center, Cullowhee, North Carolina
Museum of Design Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
Museum of Durham History, Durham, North Carolina
Museum of Medical History, Jackson, Mississippi
Museums at W&L, Lexington, Virginia
Northeast Document Conservation Center, Andover, Massachusetts
Oconee History Museum, Walhalla, South Carolina
Oglethorpe University Museum of Art (OUMassachusetts), Atlanta, Georgia
Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, Biloxi, Mississippi
Parris Island Heritage Foundation, Parris Island, South Carolina
Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation, Brookneal, Virginia
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Paul R. Jones Museum- University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Posada Art Foundation, San Francisco, CA
Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, Savannah, Georgia
Ruby’s Happy Farm, Cross Plains, Tennessee
South Carolina Confederate Relic Room & Museum, Columbia, South Carolina
Shelby County Historical Society, Shelbyville, Kentucky
Southern University at New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, Louisiana
SQT Museum, Carrollton, Georgia
Swannanoa Valley Museum, Black Mountain, North Carolina
Tennessee River Museum, Savannah, Tennessee
The Museum, Greenwood, South Carolina
The Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, Florida
The Ewing Gallery of Art + Architecture, Knoxville, Tennessee
The Guntersville Museum, Guntersville, Alabama
Stop by and say howdy to Pamela if you are attending the SEMC Conference. If not, you can give her a hollar at (817) 541-9478 or pmoore@displaysfas.com.
When I first stepped into Sylvia’s Coffee to meet with the director of the Georgia Writers Museum (GWM), Melissa Swindell, I was not sure what to expect. I had graduated from Georgia College a few months prior and was not sure what direction I wanted to go next in my life. However, I knew that whatever it was—I wanted to be writing! Growing up, I wrote scribbles in notebooks and “read” them out to anyone who would listen; I have always felt drawn to the craft.
Before I knew it, I was a part of the GWM team! I helped in any way I could—from creating social media graphics to simply volunteering at events, like their Haunted Eatonton Ghost Tours. I quickly discovered that GWM was a family, and one I wanted to be a part of. Everyone I met had their own unique strengths that kept everything moving smoothly. I saw myself as a part of them, filling in where there were gaps. I loved that I was able to use my assets to better the museum’s efforts in my community!
Not only was I helping the museum grow, but I was finding out what inspired me and my future. I discovered that I enjoyed using my creative side to design digitally, especially through the museum’s e-magazine, Page Turner. My passion for graphic design grew as I produced several issues of the magazine, and I even had a chance to write my own column, writing profiles of the team
members that made Page Turner, and Georgia Writers Museum as a whole, so wonderful!
I happily joined the GWM staff this past summer. Besides Page Turner, I keep the website and social media up to date on upcoming and exciting programs, like the annual Writers Retreat, Meet the Author events, Writers Workshops, and more! This information went out via e-news as well, but that is not all that people get in their inboxes.
Emme Clause
Feature Friday is a weekly story that focuses on a writer who is affiliated with Georgia in some capacity. So far, many talented writers have been highlighted, including Carson McCullers, Pat Conroy, Percival Everett, and more. I love not only learning all about the stories of these individuals but sharing them with our audience.
This internship has given me more than I could have predicted—like countless late nights at work on my laptop, laughs, and learning experiences. I feel so lucky
I get to work for a cause I have always been passionate about, without having to leave the town I love! Georgia Writers Museum has a bright future, and I am proud to be part of it.
Emme's paid internship at the Georgia Writer's Museum was subsidized in part by a 2024 grant from SEMC's Handumy Jean Tahan Internship Fund. Applications for 2025 paid internship support will open spring 2025.
Save the Date for SEMC2025
October 20–22, Montgomery, Alabama
Journey through Montgomery, Alabama, where diversity thrives, and experiences abound for every traveler. As the birthplace of the civil rights movement and a crucible of American heritage, Montgomery's legacy resonates with every step.
Whether you are a history buff, a foodie, an art enthusiast, or an outdoor adventurer, Montgomery welcomes you with open arms.
The SEMC2025 Conference in Montgomery, Alabama focuses on reaching into the community, remembering, and reconciling the past, and reclaiming community stories and spaces. The 2025 conference theme, Future Forward: Reach, Remember, Reclaim
developed by the Montgomery local arrangements committee, reflects the way Montgomery museums are looking toward the future by embracing new voices and new interpretations. In Montgomery, let's explore emerging trends and technologies in museums, share solutions and success stories, and come together to find a way forward.
I MPORTANT DATES
The deadline for the Summer edition of Inside SEMC is June 30, 2025. To submit information for the newsletter, please contact Zinnia Willits (zwillits@semcdirect.net) or Carla Phillips (cphillips@semcdirect.net).
SEMC
SEMC2025 Session Proposals Due ................................................. February 7, 2025
Inside SEMC Summer 2025 submissions deadline June 30, 2025
State
Georgia Association of Museums Annual Meeting
Tennessee Association of Museums Annual Meeting
Virginia Association of Museums Annual Meeting .......................
Arkansas Museum Association Annual Meeting ...........................
North Carolina Museums Council Annual Meeting ......................
National
American Historical Association Annual Meeting
February 4–7, 2025, Milledgeville, GA
March 11–14, 2025, Knoxville, TN
March 15–18, 2025, Blacksburg, VA
March 31 – April 3, 2025, Historic Washington State Park, AR
March 30–31, 2025, Raleigh, NC
January 3–6, 2025, New York City Small Museum Association Annual Meeting .................................
February 17–19, 2025, Gaithersburg, MD Museums Advocacy Day ....................................................................
February 24–26, 2025, Washington, DC
American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting ..........................
May 6–9, 2025, Los Angeles, CA Association of Academic Museums and Galleries Annual Meeting ...........................................................
June 24–27, 2025, Albuquerque, NM Association of African American Museums Annual Meeting
July 22–25, 2025, Charleston, SC
job forum get social
SEMC Job Forum offers employers and job seekers the ability to search and post jobs on SEMC’s website. SEMC Job Postings are now self-serve and free for members. For non-members, there is a flat fee of $20 each job description, regardless of the word count. SEMC Member Institutions may now post jobs for free on the SEMC jobs page at www.semcdirect.net/listing. Please Note: ALL SEMC job board postings must include the following in accordance with administrative best practices: job title; location; description of the position and organization; and numerical salary or salary range.
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