BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE

is a highly motivated, highly empathetic group of people and it gives me hope for the future. A lot of our time in JIMI was spent dissecting the issues we face as early and mid-career professionals and trying to get to the root of some of these pervasive problems in our field. It was encouraging to know we’re thinking critically about these things that can sometimes feel like “part of the job” in museums that maybe don’t need to be!

understand myself better and to see my own potential. It felt like being seen for the first time and it felt like thriving. It was truly profound.

Melissa Tran , Assistant Director of Distance Learning, The National WWII Museum

JIMI was such a great experience. It was important for me to learn more about best practices and current trends in the field. Particularly helpful for me was the session on accessibility, and thinking about how our small museum can incorporate this into our visitor services plan. The beautiful location was a bonus!

1. It’s hard to narrow down a “favorite” memory from JIMI, because there were so many special moments. One night a big storm was on the precipice of rolling in and a handful of us walked down to the beach to take it all in. You could feel the energy of the storm through the darkness, and every once in a while a strike of lightning would illuminate the sky. I felt really lucky in that moment to know I have a whole cohort of people — of friends — that would always be behind me, working quietly but illuminating the field with each move they make.

2. In museums, we are all facing challenges, change can be slow but is inevitable, and this work is important and meaningful. The value of having a strong network to lean on and support each other is essential for this kind of work to be sustainable!

1. How could I possibly choose one?! Beyond the day in and day out with the cohort, I still smile thinking about the final dinner where we all looked around the room and realized the impact of the program: a network of people, a support system, and most importantly, new friends. We had just spent so much time with each other, and it was beautiful to recognize each person’s growth and achievements. At the end we did a big group huddle!

2. The most important thing I learned is how many brilliant, hardworking, compassionate people are trying to change this profession and the future of museums for the better.

Stephani Roohani , Director, Historic

Meadow Gardens

1. Favorite memory—having a full access tour of Hollybourne Cottage and watching the removal of 100 year old Tiffany stained glass windows from Faith Chapel with Taylor Davis, JIA Historic Preservationist. Taylor’s passion for preservation is evident and contagious!

2. Regardless of institution size, we truly all face the same challenges. We have to be advocates for ourselves and what’s best for our institutions. Changes won’t happen overnight, but we still have to chip away at the things that need to change.

Elizabeth Spear , Curator of Academic Engagement, Museums at Washington & Lee

1. My favorite JIMI memory was star gazing with my new friends on the beach at night. The stars were so bright, the sky so dark, the weather perfect and the company sweet.

2. Attending JIMI helped me see myself as a leader. The experience gave clarity and focus to my career goals, and it gave me the confidence to aim for something bigger than I ever expected for myself. JIMI helped me

1. Amazing camaraderie and bonding with my deeply passionate, talented, and hilarious cohort.

2. I learned that I already have a lot of the skills to be a leader in the museum field, but if or when I decide to take that leap, I will feel much more confident thanks to the knowledge and resources I gained at JIMI, including a strong and supportive peer network.

Julie Waters , Exhibit Coordinator, Florida Museum of Natural History

1. My favorite JIMI memory was a trip I took with other participants to Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island. I had never seen anything like it before, and was blown away by the spectacular scenery.

2. I attended an evening discussion regarding the topic of salary negotiations, but I felt like the informal conversation turned into something much more. It invited us to consider our worth and how our work was valued, and to think about what we wanted for the future. The conversation really opened my mind to think about my own path and career goals more critically than I perhaps have in the past. I don’t have all the answers yet, but I feel like even asking myself questions about what I want for the future has had a positive impact on the way I approach my work.

Scotty Almany , Digital Media, Programming & Exhibit Logistics Manager, Birthplace of Country Music Museum

1. This question is a bit tough just because there are so many good memories. It is hard to top the feeling of accomplishment I had at the graduation dinner or even the initial excitement of being accepted and knowing I was going to be there. The one moment that stands out the most to me though is one that I can’t even pinpoint but sometime, maybe on the third or fourth day, I had an epiphany of what made JIMI so unique and special. I think it was because the cohort had really started melding and I saw why we were all there together. The experience of being part of my own special cohort will always be a proud and significant memory.

2. Going into JIMI I was hoping to find a benchmark for myself and where my knowledge and skillset were at in the museum field, to hopefully gain a little bit of confidence in myself, and to find some direction of how to progress and grow as a museum professional. I can say without a doubt that all of these elements were accomplished. What I did not know was how much I would learn from the other members of the cohort. I was one of the oldest of our group and I picked up so much from the younger members about the community and where the field is headed. I learned from everyone but feel like I got an entirely new set of perspectives from hearing the experiences of and getting to know those in their twenties and thirties that will prove to be invaluable.

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Natalie Smith , Registrar, Augusta Museum of History

1. Post-session, evening chats where we could deep dive into that day’s discussions and just get to know each other are my favorite memories of JIMI. I loved every bit of my time at JIMI, but my cohort was definitely my favorite part.

2. I learned a lot about myself. Turns out, I am very confident in my skills and ability in the museum field. I also saw how important it is to be open to learning new ideas and meeting new people - one of the most dangerous things is to become stagnant and unresponsive.

Adrienne Nirde , Associate Director, NC African American Heritage Commission

1. I so appreciated the overall setting and setup of JIMI. First of all, Jekyll Island is stunning and unlike anywhere I have gotten the chance to visit. But additionally, just having the time and space to sit and learn amongst other professionals for that length of time was a real pleasure. Particularly in the business of our field, there is seldom time to sit and learn and have real conversations about it. It was refreshing to sit and absorb and think deeply in community.

2. I think this was a real opportunity for me to appreciate our field and the types of professionals that are attracted to it. We spend a lot of time talking about the hardships of our era and the challenges that this creates for our institutions, but I also felt incredibly grateful to get to know more incredible people that are taking on this work. There are challenges – but there is a next generation of leadership who are ready to take them on and create equity in institutions and work to truly serve the communities that they are a part of. For me personally, it was also an opportunity to take in and reflect where I currently am in the field. I have always been interested in leadership positions, but have faced a number of challenges in navigating our field. I have sometimes lacked the confidence to seek more for myself and my career. This was a time for me to reinforce that I am skilled, knowledgeable, and capable of taking on more. And also that I have a new community of support in the field as upcoming transitions take place. of beaches, an unexpected 2-mile walk to get to Sharktooth beach, and the many different introverted and extroverted personalities I got to know.

2. The curriculum covered during JIMI explained everything there is to know about managing a museum. However, the most important thing I learned wasn’t in class. The most important thing I learned was how to open up to strangers and make friends. I am a very introverted person, so I tend to shy away from making connections with people I don’t know. But when you are on an island with no one you know you have to learn to communicate.

1. My favorite memory is visiting all the different sites around Jekyll Island; from the 4 very different types

1. There were so many but I think the “intimate” discussions in the evenings in the hotel lobby were great. We were able to get some great real-world information and ask any types of questions and others were able to share as well. It was very informal and fun.

2. Personally, I learned to come out of my shell a little www.culturalheritagepartners.com more. I want to learn from others as much as they can learn from me so I am working on being more vocal. I have also learned that I want to know more about museum management and take that next step professionally.

Ashley Hollinshead , Tour Supervisor & Guide Mentor, Monticello – Thomas Jefferson Foundation

1. It’s difficult to pick a single favorite memory from JIMI! It was a week filled with many inspiring conversations, encouragement from peers to tackle big issues, and challenges to grow both personally and professionally. I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to spend a week with an incredible group of museum professionals! I will be reflecting on all these memories for years to come.

2. As an emerging museum professional, JIMI encouraged me to consider my future career in museums and challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone. Now not only do I have a clearer understanding of my career goals, but I feel as though I have the tools, confidence, and encouragement from peers to pursue those goals.

Taylor Davis , Historic Preservationist, Jekyll Island Authority

1. There were so many great things about JIMI, but my favorite thing was the ability to be able to talk and interact with other museum professionals without worrying that we are boring all the other non-museum folks in the room. The wealth of knowledge of the speakers and other members of the cohort made this event incredible. In addition, the organization and care giving that was done for the cohort was so much appreciated! We left everyday well-fed and informed.

2. A refreshing realization that I came away with was that all museums face similar issues in all aspects of operation. Sometimes, I can get bogged down trying to re-invent solutions to seemingly unique problems that we are facing here on Jekyll, but all of the discussion sessions proved that we are all facing the same issues for the most part, just with different details.