SEMC MISSION
The Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) is a networking organization that fosters professionalism, mutual support, communication, and diversity for museums across the Southeast and U.S. Caribbean. A nonprofit membership association, SEMC advances educational and professional development opportunities and strengthens the exchange of ideas, information, and cooperation among museum professionals.
Calinda Lee, SEMC President.
SEMC VISION
The Southeastern Museums Conference envisions a vibrant and inclusive museum community that leads the industry through innovative practices, celebrates diversity, and provides accessible opportunities for all museum professionals. By setting the standard for excellence and fostering collaboration across the region, we aim to inspire and empower museums to thrive in a dynamic cultural landscape.
IMPACT STATEMENT
Advancing Museums, Strengthening Communities Across the Southeast
The Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) is the leading professional organization serving museums and cultural institutions across the Southeastern United States. With a membership spanning the Southeastern United States, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, SEMC encompasses art, history, science, natural history, and specialty museums of all sizes and plays a vital role in empowering institutions, professionals, and communities through leadership, advocacy, and collaboration. Museums in the Southeast serve as essential stewards of the region’s diverse cultural, historical, and scientific heritage. They educate millions of visitors each
year, contribute significantly to tourism and local economies, and foster dialogue, discovery, and reflection. Yet many museums—particularly small and mid-sized institutions—face persistent challenges related to funding, staffing, disaster preparedness, and community engagement.
SEMC provides the regional support network these museums need to thrive. Through annual convenings, professional development programs, leadership cultivation, inclusion initiatives, mentorship opportunities, and resources tailored specifically to the Southeast, SEMC strengthens institutional capacity and equips museum professionals with the tools to lead with confidence and purpose.
Deeply rooted in the rich and complex history of the American Southeast, the Southeastern Museums Conference plays an important role within both regional and national museum communities. Through
its network, peer-to-peer exchange, and professional development opportunities, SEMC supports museums and museum staff as they engage with evolving practices in interpretation, audience engagement, and institutional relevance. In doing so, SEMC contributes to ongoing conversations across the field around equity, access, and public service.
Each year, SEMC engages more than 2,500 museum professionals and over 600 institutions across the Southeast, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including more than 600 participants at its Annual Meeting, with growing participation from outside the region. Through sustained collaboration and investment in its network, SEMC is well positioned to continue expanding its reach and supporting a diverse and evolving museum field.
SEMC Vice President Ahmad Ward, SEMC Executive Director Zinnia Willits, and SEMC President
Calinda Lee.
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DEAR COLLEAGUES:
As I reflect on 2025, I am filled with pride and gratitude for what we accomplished together as the Southeastern Museums Conference. This year affirmed that SEMC is more than an organization — it is a vibrant community bound by a shared belief in the power of museums to educate, preserve, and inspire. Through our work, we are advancing museums and strengthening communities across the Southeast.
In 2025, we continued to build meaningful momentum. The Jekyll Island Management Institute convened an exceptional cohort of professionals committed to thoughtful, mission-driven leadership. SEMC2025 in Montgomery fostered courageous dialogue, place-based learning, and deep professional connection across our region. Throughout the year, our virtual programs and publications ensured that learning and collaboration remained accessible, reinforcing our commitment to serving museum professionals wherever they are.
Behind these accomplishments stands a dedicated team. I am deeply grateful to the SEMC staff for their expertise and care, and to our Council for their strategic leadership and stewardship. This year marked important progress as we activated our 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, strengthened our membership model, and laid the groundwork for longterm sustainability. After navigating recent challenges, SEMC has turned an important corner. Through disciplined financial management and diversified support, we are positioned for continued growth and stability.
At its heart, SEMC is about its members — the people and institutions that shape the cultural life of the Southeast. From large museums to small historic sites, from emerging professionals to seasoned leaders, you bring scholarship, creativity, and resilience to the communities you serve. I am immensely proud of this network and the spirit of generosity and collaboration that defines it.
Zinnia Willits
SEMC Staff: Carla Phillips, Zinnia Willits, and Heather Nowak.
As we look ahead to SEMC’s 75th anniversary in 2026, we are not only celebrating a milestone — we are launching a bold investment in our future. Our 75th Anniversary Campaign will honor the legacy built over seven decades while strengthening SEMC’s capacity to advance museums and strengthen communities for generations to come. We invite our members, partners, and supporters to join us in this effort — by engaging deeply, sharing expertise, and investing in the organization that invests in you. Together, we can ensure that SEMC remains essential, resilient, and forward-looking.
It is an honor to serve this remarkable community. Thank you for your partnership and belief in SEMC. The strength of our organization lies in the collective commitment of its members — and together, we are building a dynamic future for museums across the Southeast.
With appreciation,
Zinnia Willits
Executive Director
Southeastern Museums Conference
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
Calinda Lee
There is something quietly powerful about pausing to take stock — to look back at the distance we have traveled before turning our eyes toward what lies ahead. That is the spirit in which I offer this message, with deep gratitude and with a heart full of pride for what this community has accomplished together.
This has been a year of substance. Of showing up. Of doing the work on purpose, even when, perhaps especially when, the circumstances were difficult.
OUR YEAR IN REVIEW
Our 2025 Annual Meeting in Montgomery, Alabama exceeded every expectation. In a city whose streets and stories hold some of the most profound chapters in our nation’s history, SEMC members brought their full selves with creativity, resilience, and your characteristic capacity to find meaning and even joy in the most demanding of moments. The theme, “Future Forward: Reach, Remember, Reclaim,” was not merely a conference banner. It was a living description of what our members do every single day: reach into communities, reckon honestly with history, and reclaim the stories and spaces that belong to all of us.
I remain moved by the solidarity you showed toward colleagues who could not join us in Montgomery — those navigating federal funding disruptions, shrinking institutional budgets, and constraints that none of us could have fully anticipated. Your willingness to hold space for one another, to advocate and support across institutional lines, speaks to the true character of this organization.
On the financial front, I am pleased to report that we close this fiscal year in a stronger position than where we began it. Through careful stewardship, growth in conference revenue and corporate sponsorships, and the continued strength of our partnership with the Smithsonian Institution, SEMC has moved decisively away from the deficit challenges of prior years. We have been disciplined. We have been intentional. And we are rebuilding our reserve fund with clear eyes and steady hands.
We also made meaningful strides in our professional development programming, our evaluation practices, and our ongoing commitment to creating equitable and accessible pathways into museum and museum-aligned professions. These are not symbolic gestures. They are investments in people, in the field, and in the future.
LOOKING FORWARD: SEMC AT 75
As we look toward SEMC2026 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, I am filled with both excitement and deep appreciation. Our colleagues in Winston-Salem and across western North Carolina, in particular, have demonstrated extraordinary strength and resilience in the wake of devastating storms. They have not simply rebuilt; they have done so with generosity, creativity, and an open invitation for our community to join them. We are honored to accept that invitation, and I encourage every member to plan now to be present in September.
This gathering carries special significance: SEMC will celebrate its 75th Anniversary. Since our founding meeting on May 29, 1959, this organization has grown, evolved, and endured, animated by the belief that the museums, historic sites, and cultural institutions of the Southeast are worth fighting for, and that the professionals who steward them deserve a strong, supportive community of practice.
Our 75th celebration will be woven throughout every aspect of the conference: exhibitions, programming, story sharing, and a collective luncheon designed to honor where we have been while imagining, boldly, where we are going. We have already launched the quiet phase of our $75,000 Anniversary Fundraising Campaign, anchored by generous lead gifts from past SEMC presidents. This fund will strengthen our reserves and ensure that SEMC remains a resilient, mission-driven organization for the next generation of museum professionals. I invite every member to offer a contribution — knowing that your participation is deeply appreciated – at whatever level is possible and meaningful to you.
OUR PRIORITIES IN THE YEAR AHEAD
As we move forward, several commitments will guide our work:
• Fiscal Stewardship: We will continue to diversify our revenue base, deepen our sponsorship and partnership relationships, and build the financial infrastructure that allows SEMC to serve our members with stability and confidence.
• Professional Development: We are expanding our offerings, including a new workshop in Jackson, Mississippi focused on exhibition installation and mountmaking, and continuing forward momentum on the Jekyl Island Management Institute (JIMI) program with a 2027 cohort in view.
• Membership and Community: We will continue reaching out to lapsed members, welcoming new voices, and ensuring that SEMC reflects the full breadth of our region’s professionals and institutions.
• Amplifying Your Work: We want to celebrate you! Please share your milestones, innovations, new exhibitions, awards, and bold ideas with us so we can lift them up.
A FINAL WORD
What we have accomplished this year reflects the deft leadership and unwavering commitment of our Executive Director and staff team, and the dedication of a truly supportive Council. They work hard to make SEMC worthy of the community it serves.
I often think of SEMC as a bridge — built for passage, maintained with purpose, and strong enough to bear the weight of our shared aspirations. This year, we have tended that bridge with care. We have reinforced its foundations. And we have invited more people to walk across it with us. None of this happens without you. Every session proposal submitted, every donation offered, every colleague encouraged, every story shared keep this organization vital. Thank you for the trust you place in SEMC’s leadership, and thank you for continuing to show up for one another with such grace and determination.
It is my privilege to serve alongside you, working on purpose. Wishing you peace, possibility, and every good thing,
Calinda Lee
President, Southeastern Museums Conference Principal Consultant and Owner, Sources Cultural Resources Management, LLC
OUR HISTORY
1951: SEMC was established at a meeting in Norfolk, Virginia. It was agreed that the organization should include the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia. SEMC’s first task was to appoint a committee to get the Southeast included in a Congressional bill to appropriate money to provide places of safe-keeping for museum objects in case of war.
1956: Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia petitioned to join SEMC. The Council suggested they form their own organization, today known as the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums.
1959: First five-year plan and added Arkansas to the SEMC.
1960: Hosted two professional development workshops in North Carolina on museum training and historic house restoration.
1960s: Hired first SEMC staff with $25,000 foundation grant to carry out further training workshops; SEMC urged the American Alliance (formerly Association) of Museums to formulate a museum accreditation program.
1969: SEMC established a three-day annual meeting.
1970s: Local arrangements and program committees were established for the annual meeting; SEMC published a directory of educational resources.
1977: SEMC was officially incorporated; and exhibitors were added to the annual meeting.
1982: Moved the central offices of SEMC to Memphis.
1986: Moved SEMC offices to Baton Rouge.
1992: A full-time Executive Director and a Director of Office and Memberships services had been hired. Shortly after that, SEMC’s endowment was established to promote financial stability.
1996: The JumpStart Program began. This program flourished during the first decade of the 21st century and is now known as the Jekyll Island Management Institute (JIMI), offering an eight-day intensive museum training to museum professionals with two years’ experience or more.
2003: Moved the central offices of SEMC to Atlanta.
2005: SEMC established a Hurricane Katrina grant fund and awarded over $500,000 to museums and museum employees affected by the storm in Mississippi and Louisiana.
2010: SEMC established a partnership with Atlanta History Center where the SEMC office relocated.
2013: SEMC, the five other regional museum associations, and the American Alliance of Museums completed the first National Museum Salary Survey, the only comprehensive study of its kind for our diverse field.
2017: SEMC, the five other regional museum associations, five state museum associations, including Florida and Virginia, and the American Alliance of Museums completed the 2017 National Museum Salary Survey.
2019: With Association of African American Museums and National Association for Interpretation, SEMC co-sponsored NMAAHC’s Interpretation of African American History and Culture Workshop, presented in partnership with the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission.
2020: Throughout a year that included a global pandemic, leadership changes and postponement of the 2020 Annual Meeting due to health and safety concerns, SEMC persevered and continued to offer its members connection, communication, and consistency in a new virtual world. 2020 saw the launch of a virtual Leadership Institute: Leading for Today’s Challenges, as well as a successful virtual Program Series that offered over 600 attendees from across the county ongoing professional development in the face of great challenges.
2021: In 2021 SEMC continued to be nimble and pivot to meet the needs of its members during an ongoing pandemic. For the first time in its history, SEMC offered year-round virtual programs and a hybrid 2021 Annual Meeting which provided opportunities for the membership to attend professional training sessions either in-person or via a virtual conference platform (PheedLoop). 2021 also began a year-long evaluation of the Jekyll Island Management Institute which will be offered in 2023 and saw the launch of the Digital Empowerment Project for Small Museums, a nationwide initiative organized by the six U.S. regional museum associations and dedicated to providing free, self-paced training resources for small museums.
2022: 2022 was a transformational year for SEMC — a blending of past, present, and future in terms of operational adjustment and forward movement. In April 2022 SEMC was able to safely offer the Leadership Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina. This in-person launch included stellar faculty guiding a dynamic cohort of 16 individuals committed to peer-to-peer learning focused on empathetic, inclusive leadership in today’s changing world. The summer months of 2022 brought exciting new faces and initiatives to SEMC including the addition of Heather Nowak to the SEMC staff as the organization’s first Program Administrator. SEMC also received an exciting donation to create the Handumy Jean Tahan Internship Fund, which will be a resource to fund paid internships at small museums for years to come. A busy fall included the completion of a multi-year evaluation of the Jekyll Island Management Institute (JIMI) with an open call for instructors and applicants in preparation for the 2023 relaunch of the program. The 2022 Annual Meeting in Northwest Arkansas brought over 400 SEMC members together to network and learn how museums in the southeast are “Exhibiting Change.”
2023: In January 2023 SEMC was able to successfully relaunch the Jekyll Island Management Institute on Jekyll Island, Georgia after a two-year pause for evaluation during the pandemic. JIMI2023 included 17 stellar instructors guiding a dynamic cohort of 16 individuals committed to peerto-peer learning. The refreshed curriculum focused on broadening the participants understanding of museum operations and current best practices of visitor-facing and behind-the-scenes work in museums incorporating diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion, and the use of technology into all subjects. 2023 also saw continued focus
on year-round professional development through monthly virtual programming. Through an application process, SEMC was able to offer the first stipend from the Handumy Jean Tahan Internship Fund, to support a paid internship at the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center in Opelousas, Louisiana. A busy fall included opening the application period for the 2024 Leadership Institute and preparation and oversight of the 2023 Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky that brought almost 700 SEMC members together to network and learn around the theme, “Truth Builds Community.”
2024: In 2024, SEMC continued to strengthen its role as a yearround professional resource for museums across the Southeast. The organization graduated its third cohort of the SEMC Leadership Institute, expanded virtual programming, supported paid internships through the Handumy Jean Tahan Internship Fund, and successfully convened nearly 600 museum professionals in Baton Rouge for SEMC2024.
2025: SEMC entered 2025 with energy and clarity, launching a revitalized Jekyll Island Management Institute, convening SEMC2025 in Montgomery, Alabama, and preparing for the public launch of the SEMC 2025–2030 Strategic Plan. These efforts reflect SEMC’s commitment to leadership development, equity-centered practice, and institutional sustainability.
Now: SEMC enters 2026 energized by a milestone year. As we celebrate our 75th anniversary, we build on the momentum of SEMC2025 in Montgomery and the launch of our 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, both of which sharpen our focus for the years ahead. The Jekyll Island Management Institute continues to thrive under its expanded curriculum and planning for JIMI2027 is well under way. The SEMC Leadership Institute is undergoing evaluation to ensure its long-term impact and sustainability, and the next round of applications for the renamed Handumy Jean Tahan Museums Fund will further expand pathways into the field. Our monthly virtual programs remain a key source of accessible professional development across the region and SEMC will continue Launchpad programming in partnership with the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries to support students and emerging museum professionals. As we move forward, we remain committed to strengthening partnerships, deepening member engagement, and sustaining a vibrant museum community throughout the Southeast.
WHAT WAS THE BEST PART OF SEMC2025?
“The annual meeting was full of practical and crossdepartmental advice that is so rarely taught in a classroom. From inspiring examples of museum installations that balance the visitor and rental experience to in-depth suggestions on updating emergency response protocols and crafting a collections development plan, session leaders offered actionable steps to improve the way museums—both small and large—function. Since October, I have found myself continuing to reflect on insights from SEMC, and it has been exciting to see my team run with these new ideas.”
STRATEGIC PLAN
2025 PROGRESS UPDATE
Inspired by the theme “Future Forward: Reach, Remember, Reclaim,” the SEMC 2025–2030 Strategic Plan was officially launched in 2025, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s long-term planning and collective vision. Beyond publication, 2025 focused on activation—moving the plan from concept to action. To advance the plan’s priorities, each SEMC Council member joined one of three strategic working groups aligned with the plan’s core focus areas: Membership, Revenue, and Operational Model. These groups met regularly throughout 2025 and began laying the groundwork for multiyear organizational change.
SEMC’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030.
MEMBERSHIP WORKING GROUP
The Membership Working Group evaluated SEMC’s existing membership structure and explored ways to better serve a diverse and evolving professional community. As a result of this work, the group recommended new membership levels and pricing options, including a two-year premium membership and a lifetime membership option. These new membership levels were approved by Council and implemented in July 2025, providing members with greater flexibility, long-term value, and deeper engagement opportunities.
REVENUE WORKING GROUP
The Revenue Working Group focused on strengthening SEMC’s long-term financial sustainability. In 2025, the group designed the foundational strategy for SEMC’s 75th Anniversary Fundraising Campaign, planned for launch in 2026. This early planning phase included identifying campaign goals, potential audiences, and messaging aligned with SEMC’s mission and legacy, positioning the organization for a successful milestone fundraising effort.
OPERATIONAL MODEL WORKING GROUP
The Operational Model Working Group began research and exploration into SEMC’s future operational structure. In 2025, the group examined a range of potential operational models, considering factors such as staffing, technology, financial sustainability, and organizational resilience. This exploratory work is designed to inform future decision-making as SEMC continues to adapt to evolving workplace practices and operational needs.
Together, these working groups demonstrate SEMC’s commitment to intentional, Council-led implementation of its Strategic Plan. The progress made in 2025 reflects a strong foundation for continued action and accountability throughout the remainder of the 2025–2030 planning period.
GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION
SEMC gratefully acknowledges the partners, sponsors, donors, volunteers, and members whose support makes this work possible.
WHAT WAS THE BEST PART OF SEMC2025?
“Attending SEMC in Montgomery this year was nothing short of extraordinary. Having entered the museum field only six months earlier, and with this being my very first conference, I arrived unsure about my place in the profession and uncertain whether I wanted to pursue development, education, or curatorial work. SEMC changed that. The conference allowed me to explore each path in depth, learn from some of the most accomplished professionals in the field, and connect with people who immediately made me feel welcomed and valued.”
OUR PAST YEAR HIGHLIGHTS
600+ Annual Meeting attendees (Montgomery, Alabama)
56 sessions | 4 workshops | 158 presenters
34 funded travel scholarships and stipends
20 JIMI participants | 21 instructors
Monthly virtual professional development programs
56 industry partners supported the 2025 Annual Meeting through exhibiting and sponsorship.
ANNUAL MEETING, SEMC2025, MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
SEMC2025 brought together more than 600 museum professionals representing 28 states, Washington, DC, and Canada for three days of learning, reflection, and connection in Montgomery, Alabama (October 20–22, 2025). Grounded in Montgomery’s civil rights legacy, the meeting reinforced the theme “Future Forward: Reach, Remember, Reclaim” through place-based experiences, courageous dialogue, and peer-to-peer networking and programming. Highlights included 56 sessions and four workshops featuring 158 presenters; a keynote by Professor Bryan Fair, Interim President and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center; civil rights–focused tours with more than 280 attendees visiting the Legacy Sites; a strong student presence; and SEMC’s inaugural Career Hub supporting career advancement and mentoring. SEMC2025 emphasized intentional access through 34 funded travel scholarships and stipends, supported by SEMC operations and national partners.
JEKYLL ISLAND MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (JIMI), 2025
The 2025 Jekyll Island Management Institute (January 21–28) marked SEMC’s second successful post-pandemic cohort under a revitalized curriculum. Twenty emerging and mid-career museum professionals participated in an immersive eight-day experience focused on museum operations, leadership, equity, ethics, fundraising, and institutional resilience. Despite significant weather disruptions, the Institute demonstrated adaptability and cohesion, reinforcing the value of peer networks, reflective practice, and collaborative problem-solving. The next JIMI program will be offered in January 2027.
VIRTUAL PROGRAMS AND LAUNCHPAD
SEMC continued to offer monthly virtual programs in 2025, ensuring accessible, year-round professional development. Launchpad programming, in partnership with the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries, strengthened SEMC’s student-to-career pipeline and supported emerging professionals.
JIMI Class of 2025.
COMMUNITY, EQUITY, AND ADVOCACY
Equity, access, and advocacy remain central to SEMC’s work. In 2025, SEMC supported student engagement, facilitated dialogue-centered programming, and continued to advocate for museums through national initiatives including Museum Advocacy Day. Member Mingles and cohort-based programs reinforced peer connection and professional belonging.
FUNDRAISING AND FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
SEMC’s programs and operations are supported through a combination of institutional funding, individual giving, sponsorships, and earned revenue. Strategic partnerships remain critical to sustaining accessfocused programming, travel scholarships, and leadership development initiatives.
GOVERNANCE, STAFF, AND OPERATIONS
SEMC benefits from strong leadership, dedicated staff, and an engaged Council representing diverse perspectives and professional expertise. In 2025, SEMC continued to refine its operational model, strengthen volunteer engagement, and invest in sustainable administrative practices
COMMUNICATIONS AND VISIBILITY
Through newsletters, social media, publications, and targeted outreach, SEMC maintained a strong digital presence in 2025. Strategic branding partnerships and consistent messaging increased visibility for SEMC programs and strengthened member engagement.
LOOKING AHEAD
As SEMC looks toward the future and celebrates its 75th anniversary we reflect on a legacy of connection, leadership, and service to the museum community across the Southeast. While museums continue to navigate evolving social, technological, and economic landscapes, SEMC remains committed to fostering a resilient and inclusive museum ecosystem. Building on 75 years of collaboration and shared learning, SEMC will continue to adapt, innovate, and convene museum professionals across the region, ensuring that we meet both today’s opportunities and tomorrow’s possibilities together.
Members of the SEMC Council, 2025, in Montgomery.
SEMC Council Members with Bryan K. Fair at the 2025 annual meeting in Montgomery.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2025 ANNUAL MEETING SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS
PLATINUM SPONSORS
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Office of Strategic Partnerships
Smithsonian Our Shared Future:
Reckoning with our Racial Past
Southern Poverty Law Center
GOLD SPONSORS
1220 Exhibits
Experience Montgomery
Huntsville/Madison County
Convention and Visitors Bureau
Risk Strategies
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino
SILVER SPONSORS
Alabama State House of Representatives
Alabama State Senate
Atelier 4
Bonsai Fine Arts
Compass Group
Humanitru
Our Fundraising Search
Solid Light
BRONZE SPONSORS
Collector Systems
Conserv
ERCO Lighting, Inc.
Friesens
Gropen
Monadnock
Relative Scale
The PRD Group
2025 ANNUAL MEETING SUPPORTERS
Alabama Department of Archives and History
City of Montgomery
County of Montgomery
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
Southeastern Registrars Association
EVENING EVENT/OFF-SITE TOUR AND WORKSHOP HOSTS
Alabama African American Civil Rights
Heritage Sites Consortium
Alabama Department of Archives and History
Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church
Civil Rights Memorial Center
Civil Rights Memorial Park
Dexter Avenue King Memorial
Baptist Church Parsonage
Downtown Montgomery Walking Tour –Richard Trammell
Freedom Rides Museum
Foot Soldiers Park
Harriott II Riverboat
Holt Street Baptist Church
Live Oak Cemetery
Montgomery Museums of Fine Arts
My Montgomery Tour – Wanda Battle
Rosa Parks Apartment
Rosa Parks Museum
Old Alabama Town: Ordeman-Shaw House
Selma to Montgomery Tour – Wanda Battle
Tabernacle Baptist Church
The Ben Moore Hotel
The Fourth Campsite (City of S. Jude)
The Harris House
The Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr Institute
The Legacy Sites
Viola Liuzzo Memorial Site
2025 SEMC EXPO HALL INDUSTRY PARTNERS
1220 Exhibits (Gold Sponsor)
Art Display Essentials, a 10-31 Company
Arthur J. Gallagher and Co.
A4A
Art2Art Circulating Exhibitions
Atelier 4 (Silver Sponsor)
BSM Museum
CatalogIt
Collector Systems, LLC (Bronze Sponsor)
Conserv (Bronze Sponsor)
CPH Architecture and Engineering
CSR/PlanPerfect
dmdg2
Delta Designs
Dorfman Museum Figures, Inc.
Downtown FabWorks, LLC
ERCO Lighting, Inc. (Bronze Sponsor)
Experience Montgomery (Gold Sponsor)
Explus
Friesens (Bronze Sponsor)
Gaylord Archival
Goosepen Studio & Press
Gropen, Inc. (Bronze Sponsor)
HealyKohler Design
Hollinger Metal Edge, Inc.
Humanitru (Silver Sponsor)
Huntsville/Madison County
Convention and Visitors Bureau (Gold Sponsor)
Interactive Knowledge
MBA Design and Display Products, Inc.
Muse Software
Museum Photography and Digitization
Northeast Document Conservation Center
Patterson Pope
Picturae
Radical Optimist Collective
Relative Scale (Bronze Sponsor)
Riggs Ward Design
Risk Strategies (Gold Sponsor)
Roto
RPK Fundraising Consulting and Graphic Design
Safeguard
SAQA Global Exhibitions
Solid Light, Inc. (Silver Sponsor)
Southern Custom Exhibits
StoryFile
Tennessee Association of Museums
The Design Minds, Inc.
Tour-Mate Systems, LTD
TransformIt
Travelers
Universal Fiber Optic Lighting
University Products
U.S. Art Company
Vuseum Interactive
Warner Museums
WTW - Fine Art, Jewelry & Specie
WHAT WAS THE BEST PART OF SEMC2025?
“My favorite SEMC2025 memory was getting the chance to both strengthen existing relationships and forge new ones. Whether casually at one of the receptions, or more formally at the networking sessions, being able to pick the brains of the brightest minds in the museum world was invaluable. I received career advice, tips for educational programming, and the simple reassurance that we are not alone in the struggles we face in this field. ”
Left to right at the 2025 SEMC annual meeting in Montgomery: Ted R. Debro, Jr., 2025 winner of the Distinguished Contributor Award; Frank Lott, 2025 winner of the Outstanding Service to the Museum Profession Award; Heather Hodges, 2025 winner of the Museum Leadership Award; Zinnia Willits, SEMC Executive Director; Elise LeCompte, 2025 winner of the James R. Short Award; and Patrick Martin, 2025 winner of the Emerging Museum Professional Award.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2025 DONORS
ANNUAL MEETING
1220 Exhibits
Alabama State House of Representatives
Alabama State Senate
Atelier 4
Bonsai Fine Arts
Collector Systems
Compass Group Conserv
ERCO Lighting, Inc.
Experience Montgomery
Friesens
Gropen
Humanitru
Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Monadnock
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
National Museum of African American History and Culture – Office of Strategic Partnerships
Our Fundraising Search
Relative Scale
Risk Strategies
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino
Smithsonian Our Shared Future: Reckoning with Our Racial Past
Solid Light
Southern Poverty Law Center
The PRD Group
ANNUAL MEETING SCHOLARSHIPS
Alicia Franck
Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the National Museum of the American Latino
Smithsonian, Our Shared Future: Reckoning with Our Racial Past
Michael (Scott) Warren
ENDOWMENT
George Bassi
Charles (Tom) Butler
Tamra Carboni
Matthew Davis
Elise LeCompte
Darcie MacMahon
Patrick Martin
Tricia Miller
Susan Perry
Carolyn Reams
Joy Tahan Ruddell
Robert and Nancy Sullivan
Zinnia Willits
Program Committee, 2025.
GENERAL OPERATING
Anna Fariello
Eboni Belton
Rebecca Bush
David Butler in honor of Zinnia Willits
India Crawford
Matthew Davis
ERCO Lighting
Jay Ferguson
Friesens
Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
Nick Gray
Tamara Herring
R. Alan Hoff
Kyle Hutchinson and John Parker
Vicky Kruckeberg and Carl R. Nold
Calinda Lee
Katy Malone
Christa McCay
Nathan Moehlmann
Heather Nowak
Our Fundraising Search
Lauren Pacheco
Patterson Pope
Susan Perry
Joy Tahan Ruddell
Michelle Schulte
Pattie Smith
Robert and Nancy Sullivan
Melissa Swindell
Deborah Van Horn
Zinnia Willits
L. Scott Alvey
Anonymous donation in honor of the hardworking SEMC staff
2025 JEKYLL ISLAND LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
Arkansas Museums Association
Dr. David Butler
Georgia Council for the Arts
Jekyll Island Authority
Mississippi Museums Association
National Museum of African American History and Culture – Office of Strategic Partnerships
North Carolina Museums Council
Robin Reed
Smithsonian, Our Shared Future: Reckoning with Our Racial Past
South Carolina Federation of Museums
THANK YOU TO OUR INDIVIDUAL, INSTITUTIONAL, AND CORPORATE MEMBERS
LIFETIME MEMBERS
George Bassi Executive Director
Lauren Rogers Museum of Art Laurel, MS
Matthew Davis
Director, Institutional History Museum Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA
Michelle Schulte
Chief Curator of Collections and Exhibitions LSU Museum of Art Baton Rouge, LA
Deborah Rose Van Horn Senior Curator
Walt Disney Imagineering Lake Buena Vista, FL
Dr. Deborah Mack
Director (retired) Smithsonian, Our Shared Future, Reckoning with our Racial Past Ridgeland, SC
La Ruchala Murphy Executive Director Sumter County Museum of Art Sumter, SC
Lauren Pacheco Development Officer Greensboro Science Center Greensboro, NC
Robin Reed Senior Associate
Jan McKay and Associates Fort Monroe, VA
Michael Scott Parks Superintendent Alamance County Parks and Recreation Burlington, NC
PREMIUM (2-YEAR) MEMBERS
Felica Abrams, VA
Donna Beisel, AL
Angie Dodson, AL
Meredith Evans, GA
Rachel Gibson, TN
Claudio Gomez, TN
Tamara Herring, SC
Vicky Kruckeberg, NC
Abigail Linville, NC
Christa McCay, GA
Daniel Moore, Jr., GA
Carl Nold, NC
Heather Nowak, AL
Beth Shea, TN
Joshua Whitfield, GA
INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS
Abraham Lincoln Library & Museum, Harrogate, TN
Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts/ AEIVA, Birmingham, AL
African American Military History Museum, Hattiesburg, MS
Aiken County Historical Museum, Aiken, SC
Albany Museum of Art, Albany, GA
Alabama African American Civil Rights Heritage Sites Consortium
Alabama Contemporary Art Center, Mobile, AL
Alabama Department of Archives and History, Montgomery, AL
Alabama Historical Commission, Montgomery, AL
Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA
Altama Museum, Vidalia, GA
Anderson County Museum, Anderson, SC
Andrew Low House Museum, Savannah, GA
Anniston Museums and Gardens, Anniston, AL
Appleton Museum of Art, Ocala, FL
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Little Rock, AR
Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources, Smackover, AR
Arkansas State Parks, Little Rock, AR
Arthur J Moore Methodist Museum, St Simons Island, GA
Art Bridges, Bentonville, AR
Art Center Sarasota, Sarasota, FL
Art Museum of the University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum, Naples, FL
Asheville Art Museum, Asheville, NC
Asheville Museum of History, Asheville, NC
Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art at Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL
Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, GA
Augusta Museum of History, Augusta, GA
Bartow History Museum, Cartersville, GA
Baton Rouge Gallery - Center for Contemporary Art, Baton Rouge, LA
Beaches Museum, Jacksonville Beach, FL
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Charlotte, NC
Belton Area Museum Association, Belton, SC
Biblical History Center, LaGrange, GA
Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, AL
Blowing Rock Art & History Museum, Blowing Rock, NC
Bluffton Gullah Cultural Heritage Center, Bluffton, SD
Boyle County Public Library, Danville, KY
Branford Arts and Cultural Alliance, Branford, CT
Burritt on the Mountain, Huntsville, AL
Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC
Cape Fear Museum, Wilmington, NC
Carnegie Visual Arts Center, Decatur, AL
Catawba Science Center, Hickory, NC
Center for Puppetry Arts, Atlanta, GA
Charlotte Museum of History, Charlotte, NC
Cheekwood, Nashville, TN
Children’s Hands on Museum, Tuscaloosa, AL
Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA
Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, OH
City of Raleigh - Historic Resources and Museum Program, Raleigh, NC
City of Winterville, Georgia, Winterville, GA
Clark Atlanta University Art Museum, Atlanta, GA
Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Coastal Georgia Historical Society, St. Simons Island, GA
Colquitt County Arts Council, Inc, Moultrie, GA
Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC
Conrad-Caldwell House Museum, Louisville, KY
Cook Museum of Natural Science, Decatur, AL
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Nashville, TN
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR
Culture & Heritage Museums, Rock Hill, SC
Customs House Museum and Cultural Center, Clarksville, TN
Dade Heritage Trust, Miami, FL
Department of Community Services, Cultural & Historic Interpretive Resources, Lawrenceville, GA
Department of Historic Museums, Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA
Discovery Park of America, Union City, TN
Doral Contemporary Art Museum, Doral, FL
Doris Ulmann Galleries and Berea College Art Collection, Berea, KY
Drayton Hall Preservation Trust, Charleston, SC
Dunedin Fine Arts Center, Dunedin, FL
Earl Scruggs Center, Shelby, NC
East Tennessee Historical Society, Knoxville, TN
ECU Country Doctor Museum, Bailey, NC
Edisto Island Open Land Trust, Edisto Island, SC
Eleanor D. Wilson Museum at Hollins University, Roanoke, VA
Equal Justice Initiative, Montgomery, AL
FSU Museum of Fine Arts, Tallahassee, FL
Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL
Florence Arts and Museums, Florence, AL
Frist Art Museum, Nashville, TN
Gadsden Arts Center & Museum, Quincy, FL
Gaston County Museum of Art & History, Gastonia, NC
Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Georgia Southern University Museum, Statesboro, GA
Georgia Writers Museum, Eatonton, GA
Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, SC
Gone With the Wind Museum, Marietta, GA
Gregg Museum of Art & Design, NC State University, Raleigh, NC
Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, Charleston, SC
Hampton Roads Naval Museum, Norfolk, VA
Hampton University Museum, Hampton, VA
Hapeville Depot Museum, Hapeville, GA
Hickory Museum of Art, Hickory, NC
Hidden River Cave & the American Cave Museum, Horse Cave, KY
High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA
High Point Museum, High Point, NC
Hills & Dales Estate, LaGrange, GA
Historic Augusta, Inc., Augusta, GA
Historic Cane Hill, Inc., Canehill, AR
Historic Columbia, Columbia, SC
Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, Hilton Head Island, SC
Historic Natchez Foundation, Natchez, MS
Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans, LA
Historic Oakland Foundation, Atlanta, GA
Historic Paris Bourbon County Hopewell Museum, Paris, KY
Historic Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, AL
Historical Association of Catawba Co., Newton, NC
History Cherokee, Canton, GA
History Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, FL
History Museum of Mobile, Mobile, AL
HistoryMiami Museum, Miami, FL
Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center, Naples, FL, FL
Horry County Museum, Conway, SC
Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, TN
Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington, WV
Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL
International African American Museum, Charleston, SC
International Arts Center, Troy, AL
Jekyll Island Authority, Jekyll Island, GA
Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University, Auburn, AL
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum, Jupiter, FL
Kentucky Department of Parks, Frankfort, KY
Kentucky Derby Museum, Louisville, KY
Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort, KY
KMAC Museum, Louisville, KY
Knoxville Museum of Art, Knoxville, TN
Lake Wales History Museum, Lake Wales
Lam Museum of Anthropology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Landmarks Foundation, Montgomery, AL
LaGrange Art Museum, LaGrange, GA
Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, Laurel, MS
Lexington County Museum, Lexington, SC
Longue Vue House and Gardens, New Orleans, LA
Louisiana Art & Science Museum, Baton Rouge, LA
Louisiana Prison Museum and Cultural Center, Angola, LA
Louisiana State Archives, Baton Rouge, LA
Louisiana State Museum, New Orleans, LA
Kristen Miller Zohn and Emily Thomas, SEMC2025, Montgomery.
Eboni Belton, Deitrah Taylor, Erika Witt, and Brigette Jones at the SEMC annual meeting, 2025, Montgomery.
Louisiana State University Textile & Costume Museum, Baton Rouge, LA
Louisiana’s Old State Capitol, Baton Rouge, LA
Louisville Water Tower, Louisville, KY
Lowe Art Museum, Coral Gables, FL
LSU Museum of Art, Baton Rouge, LA
LSU Rural Life Museum, Baton Rouge, LA
Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College, Lynchburg, VA
Magnolia Mound Plantation, Baton Rouge, LA
Mandarin Museum & Historical Society, Jacksonville, FL
Marine Corps Museum Parris Island, Parris Island, SC
Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art, Marietta, GA
Marietta History Center, Marietta, GA
Maritime Museum Louisiana, Madisonville, LA
Mather Museum & Interpretive Center, Beaufort, SC
Matheson History Museum, Gainesville, FL
McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, Knoxville, TN
McKissick Museum, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis, TN
Mennello Museum of American Art, Orlando, FL
Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
Middleton Place Foundation, Charleston, SC
Mimms Museum of Technology and Art, Roswell, GA
Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC
Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, Jackson, MS
Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience, Meridian, MS
Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson, MS
Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson, MS
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Jackson, MS
Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, AL
MOCA Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, AL
Morehouse College / HSSMA, Atlanta, GA
Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, Ridgeland, SC
Morris Museum of Art, Augusta, GA
Morse Museum of American Art, Winter Park, FL
Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Little Rock, AR
Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum, Jekyll Island, GA
Mound House, Fort Myers Beach, FL
Mountain Heritage Center, Cullowhee, NC
Museums at W&L, Lexington, VA
Muscarelle Museum of Art, Williamsburg, VA
Museum & Gallery at Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC
Museum Center at 5ive Points, Cleveland, TN
Museum of Art - DeLand, DeLand, FL
Museum of Arts and Sciences, Macon, GA
Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, North Miami, FL
Museum of Design Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
Museum of Durham History, Durham, NC
Museum of Science & History, Jacksonville, FL
Museum of the Cherokee People, Cherokee, NC
Museum of the Mississippi Delta, Greenwood, MS
Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, New Orleans, LA
National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Atlanta, GA
National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle, VA
National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Pooler, GA
National Sporting Library & Museum, Middleburg, VA
NCDNCR, NC Division of State Historic Sites and Properties, Kinston, NC
New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA
Newcomb Art Museum, New Orleans, LA
North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
North Carolina Museum of History, Raleigh, NC
Oconee History Museum, Walhalla, SC
Oglethorpe University Museum of Art (OUMA), Atlanta, GA
Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, Biloxi, MS
Old State House Museum, Little Rock, AR
Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center, Opelousas, LA
Orange County Regional History Center, Orlando, FL
ORLANDO MUSEUM OF ART, INC., Orlando, FL
Our Legacy Museum, Griffin, GA
Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation, Brookneal, VA
Patriots Point, Mt Pleasant, SC
Charity Counts, executive director of the Midwest Association of Museums, and Zinnia Willits, Museums Advocacy Day, 2025.
Paul R. Jones Museum- University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Pinellas County Historical Society/Heritage Village, Largo, FL
Portsmouth Museums, Portsmouth, VA
President James K. Polk State Historic Site/NC Dept of Natural & Cultural Resources, Pineville, NC
Reynolda House Museum of American Art, WinstonSalem, NC
River Discovery Center, Paducah, KY
Riverside, The Farnsley-Moremen Landing, Louisville, KY
Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking, Atlanta, GA
Rogers Historical Museum, Rogers, AR
Salem Museum & Historical Society, Salem, VA
Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta, GA
Savannah River Site Museum, Aiken, SC
Schiele Museum, Gastonia, NC
SC Confederate Relic Room & Museum, Columbia, SC
South Carolina Civil Rights Museum, Orangeburg, SC
South Carolina Military Museum, Columbia, SC
South Carolina State Museum, Columbia, SC
South Union Shaker Village, Auburn, KY
Spelman College, Atlanta, GA
SQTMuseum, Carrollton, GA
Sumter Museum, Sumter, SC
Swannanoa Valley Museum, Black Mountain, NC
Swope Art Museum, Terre Haute, IN
T.R.E.E. House Children’s Museum, Alexandria, LA
TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART INC, Tampa, FL
Tampa Baseball Museum at the Al Lopez House, Tampa, FL
Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, VA
Telfair Museums, Savannah, GA
Tellus Science Museum, Cartersville, GA
Tennessee River Museum, Savannah, TN
Tennessee State Museum, Nashville, TN
The Museum, Greenwood, SC
The Bass, Miami Beach, FL
The Brown – The Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Arts, Science & History, Daytona Beach, FL
The Charleston Museum, Charleston, SC
The Columbus Museum, Columbus, GA
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, Jacksonville, FL
The Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Memphis, TN
The Dot Experience at APH, Louisville, KY
The Ewing Gallery of Art + Architecture, Knoxville, TN
The Florida Holocaust Museum, St. Petersburg, FL
The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA, Charlottesville, VA
The Guntersville Museum, Guntersville, AL
The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, St Petersburg, FL
The Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, Farmville, VA
The National WWII Museum, New Orleans, LA
The O’Bryant Museum, Dunbar, WV
The Parthenon, Nashville, TN
The Wolfsonian - FIU, Miami Beach, FL
Thomas County Historical Society, Thomasville, GA
Thomasville Center for the Arts, Thomasville, GA
Torggler Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA
Town of Farragut, Farragut, TN
Tryon Palace, New Bern, NC
Tubman Museum, Macon, GA
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, Boone, NC
Union County Heritage Museum, New Albany, MS
University of Alabama Museums, Tuscaloosa, AL
University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA
Upcountry History Museum, Greenville, SC
Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (“VMOCA”), Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA
Wake Forest Historical Museum, Wake Forest, NC
Walter Anderson Museum of Art, Ocean Springs, MS
Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA
Waterworks Visual Arts Center, Salisbury, NC
Weatherspoon Art Museum UNCG, Greensboro, NC
Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC
Whitney Plantation, Wallace, LA
William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, Atlanta, GA
Windgate Museum of Art at Hendrix College, Conway, AR
Wiregrass Museum of Art, Dothan, AL
Woodville Rosenwald School, Gloucester, VA
CORPORATE MEMBERS
Business Associate
Alexander Haas, Atlanta, GA
Available Light, Raleigh, NC
Banks Creative, Charleston, SC
Bonsai Fine Arts Inc, Glen Burnie, MD
Capital Development Services, Winston-Salem, NC
Chickasaw Inkana Foundation, Tupelo, MS
Cooper Carry, Atlanta, GA
CSR-Consulting, Solutions, Results, Atlanta, GA
Denali Art Solutions, Harvey, LA
Eisterhold Associates, Inc., Kansas City, MO
Gropen, Inc., Charlottesville, VA
Houser Walker Architecture, Atlanta, GA
Hutchinson Design Group, Alexandria, VA
NMBL Strategies, St. Louis, MO
Solomon Group, New Orleans, LA
The Decorative Arts Trust, Media, PA
The Design Minds, Inc., Fairfax, VA
Vuseum Interactive, Holly Springs, NC
Wonderlab Fabrication, Rossville, GA
Corporate Friend
10-31, Inc., Columbia, NJ
1220 Exhibits, Inc., Nashville, TN
A4A Designs, Louisville, KY
Accession Grant Writing for Museums, Grosse Pointe Park, MI
Art Sentry, Cleveland, OH
art2art Circulating Exhibitions, Kingston, NY
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Brentwood, TN
Atelier 4, Inc., Charlotte, NC
Brunk Auctions, Asheville, NC
BSM Museum, Abilene, TX
CatalogIt, Pinckney, MI
Collector Systems, LLC., New York, NY
Conserv, Birmingham, AL
CPH Architecture & Engineering, Sanford, FL
dmdg2, Savannah, GA
Dorfman Museum Figures, Inc., Baltimore, MD
Downtown FabWorks LLC, New Orleans, LA
ERCO Lighting, Edison, NJ
Explus, Inc., Sterling, VA
Friesens Corporation, Brunswick, GA
Member Mixer, 2025.
Gaylord Archival, Syracuse, NY
Haizlip Studio, Memphis, TN
HealyKohler Design, Washington, DC
HW Exhibits, Mt. Pleasant, SC
Interactive Knowledge, Charlotte, NC
MBA Design & Display Products Corporation, Exton, PA
Monadnock, Hatfield, MA
Muse Software, Newark, DE
Northeast Document Conservation Center, Andover, MA
Our Fundraising Search, Atlanta, GA
Patterson Pope, Charlotte, NC
Picturae, Washington, DC
Quinn Evans, District of Columbia, DC
Relative Scale, Raleigh, NC
Riggs Ward, Richmond, VA
Roto, Dublin, OH
SAQA Global Exhibitions, Beavercreek, OH
Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and Smithsonian Affiliations, Washington, DC
Solid Light, Inc., Louisville, KY
Story File, Los Angeles, CA
The PRD Group LLC, Fairfax, VA
Tour-Mate Systems, Toronto, OTHER
Transport Consultants International, Lithia, FL
Travelers, Alpharetta, GA
U.S.Art Company Inc., Randolph, MA
Universal Fiber Optic Lighting USA, LLC., Sarasota, FL
Warner Museums, Birmingham, AL
WTW/Willis - Fine Art, Jewelry & Specie, Potomac, MD
Corporate Partner
Smithsonian Institution – Reckoning With Our Racial Past, Washington, DC
Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Charleston, SC
National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
Left to right: Romona Williams, Visit Winston-Salem representative; Catherine Pears, former SEMC Council Member; Tina Smith, Winston-Salem local arrangements chair; and Deitrah Taylor, former SEMC Council Member.
SEMC COUNCIL
OFFICERS DIRECTORS
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
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-Relf 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 tamara@themissionsteward.com
Founder/Principal Consultant, The Mission Steward, Ridgeland, SC
Felicia Knise Felicia.Ingram@dncr.nc.gov
Director of Interpretive Strategies, 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
SEMC STAFF
ZINNIA WILLITS zwillits@semcdirect.net
SEMC Executive Director
CARLA PHILLIPS cphillilps@semcdirect.net
SEMC Manager of Communications and Member Services
Michelle Schulte mschulte@lsu.edu
Chief Curator of Exhibitions and Collections, LSU Museum of Art, Baton Rouge, LA
John Spann jspann@mhc.state.ms.us
Program and Outreach Officer, Mississippi Humanities, Jackson, MS
Scott Warren Scott.warren@dncr.nc.gov Director,
President James K. Polk Historic Site, Pineville, NC
HEATHER NOWAK hnowak@semcdirect
SEMC Program Administrator
A SNAPSHOT OF SEMC’S REACH IN 2025
SOCIAL MEDIA STATS
Facebook Followers: 2,900
Instagram Followers: 1,817
LinkedIn Group Followers: 1,697
SEMC MEMBERSHIP
Individuals Institutions Corporations
INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP
CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP
INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP BY STATE
Institutional members by state
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
SEMC Endowment at end of FY25: $760,344
SEMC received $140,145 in contributions and grants in FY25
*Note FY25 is July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025
You can support SEMC through contributions toward SEMC General Operations; SEMC Endowment; SEMC Leadership Institute; Martha Battle Jackson Fund (supports sustainability of the Jekyll Island Management Institute/JIMI); Peter S. LaPaglia Scholarship Fund (supports JIMI tuition scholarships); Handumy Jean Tahan Internship Fund; and Legacy Society (Planned Giving) or other activities by donating online at www. SEMCdirect.net. SEMC created the Legacy Society to recognize the generosity of individuals who have included the Southeastern Museums Conference in their wills or estate plans. A planned gift will make a difference in the services of SEMC and the future development of the museum profession. For more information on planned giving please contact Zinnia Willits, SEMC Executive Director at zwillits@semcdirect.net
OPERATING REVENUE AND EXPENSES
Approximately 75% of SEMC’s FY25 operating expenses supported personnel and program delivery, reflecting the labor-intensive and mission-driven nature of SEMC’s professional development work.
Contributions
Membership Revenue
Registration and Tuition
Sales Revenue
Interfund Transfers
Insurance, Taxes, and Permits
Advertising/Publications
Professional Service/Sta
Administrative Expenses expenses
Travel (employee/non-employee)
Program Costs
front cover: SEMC Vice President Ahmad Ward with Danille Taylor, Director of Clark Atlanta University Art Museum.
back cover: Zinnia Willits, SEMC Intern Candice Lawrie, Heather Nowak, and Carla Phillips.
