JIMI 2023 Reflections

Robin Reed , JIMI Facilitator

On January 17 of this year, 18 brave museum professionals entered an eight-day immersive experience as individual cohorts and came out as a group of friends. We call that experience the Jekyll Island Management Institute (JIMI). The affiliates represented different museum disciplines and were from various stages in their museum career. The Institute, created by Martha Battle Jackson, aided later by John Lancaster and friends, envisioned a place where middle management and new directors could learn, share, and discuss the complexities of the museum world.

After a hiatus of three years, starting after the conclusion of JIMI’s 20th year caused by Covid 19, SEMC brought this juggernaut program back online. The onsite JIMI leadership team included SEMC Executive Director Zinnia Willits, Program Administrator Heather Nowak, and me as the discussion facilitator. The reward for this challenging and daunting work was the enthusiasm of our cohorts and instructors.

Jekyll Island was the perfect backdrop for our associates to learn from different professionals, all leaders in their fields. The rough but tranquil landscape of the island created an atmosphere to enrich one’s mind, soul, and spirit. The participants were eager to learn, discuss, and debate the challenges of our museum world. The energy of the individuals in the group inspired each other, the staff, and the instructors. We were capturing lightning in a bottle.

It makes me hopeful for the future of our industry.