MAAM 2026 Annual Conference

Museums serve as vital hubs for civic action, reflecting their communities through exhibitions and programming. This session demonstrates how cultural sites use collections to inspire student programming. Participants will be introduced to the Exploring Civics Toolkit, an adaptable framework for museum practitioners that bridges historical narratives with civic themes to foster community engagement. Representatives from four diverse sites will share Toolkit-informed strategies and activities that empower students to explore their roles in their community. Attendees will learn practical methods to encourage students to advocate for positive change while gaining a deeper appreciation for the diversity inherent in the American experience.

Session Takeaways:
•Have a more complete understanding of possible civics driving questions and themes inherent in Museum collections and exhibitions
•Be able to access the Exploring Civics Toolkit for use at their own institution to cultivate civic mindset and action through collections and exhibitions
•Understand how they might implement similar programming at their own institution

Moderators

Gerrie Hall

Assistant Vice President of Education, Intrepid Museum

Gerrie Bay Hall is the Assistant Vice President of Education at the Intrepid Museum. With more than two decades of experience in humanities education, museum learning, and public history, she plays a central role in developing inclusive, content-rich learning experiences for K12 school... Read More →

Speakers

Hannah Gaston

Director of Education, Liberty Hall Museum & Arboretum

Hannah Gaston, the Director of Education at Liberty Hall Museum & Arboretum, leads a team of museum educators who bring the historic home and grounds to life for over 10,000 school children each year. She is passionate about making small historic house museums relevant and compelling... Read More →

Karina Filipowski

Curator of Education & Community Engagement, Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Karina Filipowski is the Curator of Education & Community Engagement at Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, where she is inspired daily by the history, art, and garden at this historic house in Morristown, NJ. She works with teachers and community partners to create programming and... Read More →

Greer Luce

Curator of Education & Public Programs, Morven Museum & Garden

Greer Luce is the Curator of Education and Public Programs at Morven Museum & Garden. She manages the museum’s public events, family and school programming, and community partnerships. Prior to Morven, Greer worked as Chief Communications Officer at the New Jersey Historical Commission... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Company Discussion/Roundtable

10:30am EDT

Objects and Manuscripts and Books, Oh My!: An Interdepartmental Approach to Collections Control and Access

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT

TBA

Museum collections are not static, despite their typically stationary nature. Each item requires active, never-ending tasks to manage condition and utility. How can museums ensure that current and future generations of visitors continue to engage with their collections when maintenance and access are challenged by geography, funding, and environmental conditions? This panel will share how Historic Hudson Valley overcame these challenges and used interdepartmental partnerships to establish physical and intellectual control over historical collections originally held in disparate locations. Audience takeaways include strategies for developing their own collections management practices and utilizing cost-effective methods to meet project and organizational needs.

Session Takeaways:
•Identify strategies to adapt existing infrastructure and cultivate staff capabilities
•Innovate ways to use lower-cost technology to create high-impact solutions
•Understand benefits and challenges of interdepartmental communication, collaboration, and prioritization
•Gain insight on the relationship between providing visitor access to and ensuring protection of historical collections

Moderators

Priscilla Brendler

Executive Director, Greater Hudson Heritage Network

Priscilla Brendler is the Executive Director of Greater Hudson Heritage Network. Her work in the museum field spans thirty years and includes expertise in strategic planning, program production, historical interpretation, organizational restructuring, development and fundraising... Read More →

Speakers

Caitlin Monaco

Archives and Collections Manager, Historic Hudson Valley

Caitlin Monaco is the Archives and Collections Manager at Historic Hudson Valley, overseeing curatorial and archival holdings across multiple historic sites. Prior to this role, she was the Assistant Archivist for the Archdiocese of New York. Caitlin holds a MA in Museum Studies from... Read More →

Patira Puttharuksa

Senior Director, Property Stewardship, Historic Hudson Valley

Patira Puttharuksa is the Senior Director of Property Stewardship at HHV, overseeing the Buildings, Grounds, and Security departments. She brings more than a dozen years of experience managing capital project budgets at the American Museum of Natural History and managing contracts... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Collections Stewardship

Company Panel

10:30am EDT

The Art of Reinvention: Innovation and Growth at the Delaware Art Museum

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT

TBA

The Delaware Art Museum turned decades of deferred growth into a bold reinvention—boosting earned income by 250% while advancing accessibility and community engagement. These investments enabled DelArt to address long-standing needs while rethinking its business model, in part, by reconfiguring spaces and strengthening its community connections. This interactive panel discussion shares the practical tools and creative partnerships behind the transformation, offering attendees strategies to increase earned revenue, improve accessibility, and strengthen community engagement.

Session Takeaways:
•Examine practical tools for identifying, diversifying, and maximizing earned revenue, including rentals, retail, admissions, and programming
•Develop a “toolkit for reinvention” by identifying at least one specific strategy (e.g., creating low-effort engagement opportunities, considering new ways to activate public spaces, or reassessing core value) to pilot at their home institution.

Moderators

Heather Morrissey

Director of Operations and Engagement, Delaware Art Museum

Heather Morrissey is an innovative museum leader. At DelArt, she oversees security, visitation, retail, studio and community programs, rentals, and facilities. She has spearheaded major initiatives including the transition to in-house security and expansion of services that generated... Read More →

Speakers

Nadjah Pennington

Cultural Programs Coordinator, Delaware Art Museum

With experience in community programming, engagement and outreach, Nadjah manages community-focused events, collaborating with artists and stakeholders to ensure successful programming. As Co-Founder of NadjNJea LLC, she provides outreach and engagement, promoting dialogue on local... Read More →

Kim Barnhart

Events and Venue Services Manager, Delaware Art Museum

With over 10 years experience in customer service and hospitality, Kim has sold and managed venue rental events generating over $400,000 in revenue annually. Her client experience ranges from initial contact through post-event services including tours, event walkthroughs, building... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Fundraising & Revenue

Company Panel

1:45pm EDT

Beyond the Museum Walls: Partnering with Local Tourism for Greater Reach

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

TBA

Heritage and cultural travelers are hungry for authentic stories, and museums have them. But getting those stories in front of visitors takes more than great exhibits. Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs)—local and regional tourism pros—can help. This interactive roundtable explores how museums and DMOs can team up to boost visibility, share resources, and bring more travelers through your doors. We'll dig into why these partnerships matter, what they look like in practice, and how to deepen your own relationships. Come ready to share your experiences and leave with practical ideas to put into action.

Session Takeaways:
•Understand the role and priorities of DMOs and how museums can align with them.
•Explore practical strategies for initiating or deepening DMO partnerships.
•Share success stories and challenges from participants to build collective knowledge.
•Identify specific steps for integrating museum programming into local tourism ecosystems.

Moderators

Heidi Schlag

Principal, Heritage Tourism Studio

Heidi Schlag is a marketing consultant with 25 years of experience with heritage and cultural organizations, including as Director of Marketing and Communications for the C&O Canal Trust. She now runs Heritage Tourism Studio, helping museums and nonprofits grow their tourism impact... Read More →

Speakers

Jody Brumage

Archivist and Museum Manager, Heritage Frederick

Jody Brumage is an archivist and public historian with a passion for connecting residents and visitors to the Frederick County, Maryland, area with the region's rich and diverse past. He currently manages the Frederick County Archives and Research Center, helping researchers engage... Read More →

Jake Wynn

Senior Marketing & Communications Manager, Visit Frederick

Jake Wynn brings a dual background in public history and tourism marketing, formerly serving as Director of Interpretation at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. He now promotes Frederick, Maryland’s rich cultural landscape to regional and national audiences.

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Marketing & Communications

Company Discussion/Roundtable

1:45pm EDT

Experimental Spaces: Practical Advice from a VR Prototype

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

TBA

How can virtual reality technology benefit museums? What outcomes justify the investment of significant financial and staff resources? For staff at the Intrepid Museum, virtual reality seemed like the key to unlocking unrestored, inaccessible ship spaces. The Museum prototyped a virtual reality experience centered on digital recreations of the ship’s engineering compartments, the most asked-about unrestored spaces on Intrepid. This panel brings together staff from different departments to share what they learned from the development of Explore Intrepid: Engines and Boilers.

Session Takeaways:
•Explore the opportunities and challenges of “digital restoration”
•Understand digital accessibility needs and the role of iterative feedback and updates
•Assess the value of on-site use and app store distribution

Moderators

Ephraim Kozodoy

Museum Specialist, Intrepid Museum

Ephraim Kozodoy is a museum professional with three years of experience working on exhibition research, writing and design. At the Intrepid Museum, his responsibilities include oral history narrator research and interviews, media and content development, and collections research and... Read More →

Speakers

Chris Malanson

AVP of Exhibitions and Experience Design, Intrepid Museum

Chris Malanson is an award-winning multidisciplinary Exhibition Designer known for creating immersive, accessibility focused installations that engage diverse audiences through multimodal experiences. With over 30 years of design expertise, he specializes in developing content driven... Read More →

Charlotte Martin

Director of Access Initiatives, Intrepid Museum

Charlotte Martin (she/her) has over 15 years of experience working in museum education and accessibility. At the Intrepid Museum, she and her team develop specialized and inclusive programs and resources for visitors with disabilities and collaborate across the institution to embed... Read More →

Tim Leitner

Exhibits AV & Lighting Technician, Intrepid Museum

Tim Leitner oversees the lighting and audiovisual media that bring exhibits to life at the Intrepid Museum. He began his career in New York City recording studios, engineering records for major artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and Cyndi Lauper. He diversified into TV... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Technology

Company Panel

1:45pm EDT

From Content to Connection: Developing Student Activities for Deeper Engagement

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

TBA

he award-winning tour, Gilded Not Golden, contextualizes concepts like wealth disparity, labor conflicts, and capitalism on public tours of a Gilded Age home, Clayton. But how do you translate these challenging themes and complex narratives for younger learners? Beyond translation, how do you get those students to make deeper connections? To address these questions, staff developed participatory activities asking students to make connections between Gilded Age Pittsburghers, their resources, and impact. This session will share the process of developing these activities and give you tools to implement similar programs at your museum.

Session Takeaways:
•Develop hands-on activities for visitors to prioritize participatory learning over passive learning
•Create programs that respond to school curriculum with their institution’s mission and collection in mind
•Identify potential collaborators, both within and outside of their institution
•Evaluate and adjust activities to fine tune the experience and maintain relevance

Speakers

Dalena Collins

Learning and Interpretive Manager, The Frick Pittsburgh

Dalena Collins is the Learning and Interpretive Manager at the Frick Pittsburgh. Her work focuses on accessibility, centering unrecognized stories, and interactive interpretation. Dalena earned her MA in Public History, which sparked her passion for all-things museum education. She... Read More →

Stacey McSorley

Manager of Youth and Family Programs, The Frick Pittsburgh

Stacey is a Pittsburgh-based informal educator committed to facilitating meaningful experiences through artmaking, play, and community. Stacey received training in multicultural arts education from Eastern Illinois University, where she received an MA in Community Arts. They currently... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Company Discussion/Roundtable

1:45pm EDT

Tough Conversations: Exploring Deaccessioning Dilemmas and Solutions

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

TBA

What are the "pain points" that make deaccessioning such a challenge? Co-presenters and audience members will work together to examine the social, emotional, and practical inhibitions associated with deaccessioning. They will explore how institutions can work through these challenges to create solid policies and practices that support financial, environmental, and operational sustainability.

Session Takeaways:
•Understand and gain insights into the deaccession process
•Consider how deaccessioning can support institutional sustainability
•Evaluate their own deaccession "pain points" and consider how they might be overcome

Speakers

Katie Lowe

Preservation Specialist, Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts

Katie, a public historian with ten years of experience in museums, community programming, non-profit work, and education, has held positions at The Holocaust Awareness Museum & Education Center, Pennsbury Manor, The Mercer Museum, The Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace, Old Salem Museum... Read More →

Candace Hesselbart

Collections Management Librarian, Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Working for over a decade with collections materials in their management, processing, care and maintenance, and interpretation, Candace has held roles at at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, Upper Moreland Free Public Library, Tredyffrin Public Library, the Victoria Mansion Historic... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Company Discussion/Roundtable

3:30pm EDT

Green Legacy: How Historic Sites Can Lead The Environmental Charge

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT

TBA

New York City is home to 8.5 million people. It is also home to over 7 million trees, covering approximately 22% of the city. Lack of tree cover contributes to summer temperatures that are 20-30 degrees hotter than spaces with canopies. At King Manor Museum in Jamaica, Queens, we see first hand how our green space provides a cooler space during heat waves than anywhere else along Jamaica Ave. We are working with the Forest For All Coalition and Melting Metropolis to not only educate, but provide courses for action with our community.

Session Takeaways:
•Gain a better understanding of the importance of hands-on action events to create an intergenerational community.
•Understand the impact of external partnerships in organizing and supporting museum-based programming.
•Gain a better understanding of the impact of urban green spaces as a call for climate action.

Speakers

Veronica Alt

Education and Program Coordinator, King Manor Museum

Veronica Alt has almost 15 years of experience in historic homes, historic ships, and art museums. At King Manor Museum, Veronica is enthusiastic about collaborating with the local community to develop educational programs and expand the museum’s outreach. She is committed to fostering... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Company Panel

3:30pm EDT

HueArts & Cultures Northeast: An Initiative Centering Museums That Preserve Our Stories

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT

TBA

This session will share key findings from the HueArts & Cultures initiative, demonstrating how mapping can illuminate networks of cultural memory, and explore how museums of color anchor community stories in the land itself. Participants will gain insights into how these institutions have been reshaping the museum field by linking storytelling, place, and cultural preservation.

This initiative examines how these museums function as gathering grounds where land, community, and cultural memory intersect. Session speakers will discuss how institutions of color steward stories embedded in place while fostering cultural continuity, community voice, and social change.

Session Takeaways:
•Explore how digital mapping and national research can reveal geographic patterns, networks, and collective impact among museums of color.
•Identify community-centered practices that connect museums’ missions to place, cultural memory, and social justice.
•Apply insights from the HueArts & Cultures initiative to strengthen storytelling, placekeeping, and community engagement within their own institutions.

Moderators

Stephanie Cunningham

Executive Director, Museum Hue

Stephanie Cunningham is the Executive Director of Museum Hue. She spearheaded the organization’s HueArts & Cultures initiative, which includes an online platform and three comprehensive research reports that document the pedagogy, practices, impact, and challenges of over 700 arts... Read More →

Speakers

Silvermoon LaRose

Assistant Director, Tomaquag Museum

Silvermoon LaRose is a citizen of the Narragansett Tribe and Assistant Director of the Tomaquag Museum. She has worked in tribal communities for over 20 years. Silvermoon serves on the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts. As an artist educator, she fosters Indigenous empowerment... Read More →

Vashti DuBois

Founder and Executive Director, The Colored Girls Museum

In 2015, DuBois opened The Colored Girls Museum to "honor the stories, experiences and history of Colored Girls throughout the African Diaspora.” It is the first memoir museum of its kind offering visitors a multi-disciplinary experience in a residential space. TCGM initiates the... Read More →

Brenda Simmons

Founder and Executive Director, Southampton African American Museum

Brenda Simmons is the Founder and Executive Director of the Southampton African American Museum, which after a sixteen year Labor of Love officially opened Juneteenth 2021, and is the first African American site to be historically designated in the Village of Southampton but also... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Collections Stewardship

Company Panel

3:30pm EDT

QuickTakes from the Field

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT

TBA

QuickTakes feature a series of brief presentations from multiple speakers, each sharing an innovative idea, project, case study, or practical lesson. This rapid-fire format allows attendees to hear a variety of perspectives and leave with actionable ideas in just one session.

Franklin’s Spark: Reimagining a Historic Rotunda Through Immersive Storytelling, Brad Baer, Founder and CEO, Crafted Action: How do museums activate iconic architecture while honoring history, scholarship, and visitor expectations? This session explores the creation of Franklin’s Spark at the Franklin Institute—an immersive projection experience celebrating Benjamin Franklin’s 320th birthday and launching the nation’s Semiquincentennial. Attendees will learn how a cross-disciplinary team transformed a beloved rotunda into a dynamic storytelling environment using light, sound, and narrative design without permanent construction. The session shares practical strategies for balancing preservation with innovation, engaging new audiences, and delivering high-impact experiences within real-world museum constraints.
Making Your Web Content Findable: Case Studies in Improving Content Search and Findability, Erin Carty, Web Producer, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: Visitors don’t want to spend a lot of time searching for the resources or information they need, so how do you ensure they can find what they need quickly? The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum was running into this exact problem. Our main website had a frustrating user experience when searching for resources and information, so we needed to improve it. This presentation will go over two case studies that helped make resources easier to find on www.ushmm.org, data on how visitors access our resources, and what’s next for improving content findability.
The White Gloves Gang Past, Present, and Future: Increasing Hands-On Support and Networking for Collections Projects, Nancy Beatrice Bateman, Senior Registrar and Director of Collections, National Building Museum: Is your museum’s collection in need of care that you don’t have the staff, supplies, or expertise to provide? White Gloves Gang is a MAAM initiative that supports small and mid-sized museums with collections projects through a day of hands-on service near the Annual Meeting. After decades of bringing together the museum community through professional volunteerism, MAAM plans to grow the program by increasing the number and scope of events through like-minded partnerships. Join us for a discussion on WGG’s past & present, learn how to request & offer support, and help brainstorm ways to expand moving forward.
Beyond the Frame – Everything Paper: Methods, Materials & Techniques, Jonathan Schoff, Head Preparator, Delaware Art Museum: Everything Paper – Methods, Materials & Techniques represents an important opportunity for the field of collections care. By addressing immediate challenges in the handling and conservation of works of art on paper, while also building a long-term resource for professionals worldwide, this workshop initiative has the potential to advance both practice and sustainability. With the support of PACCIN, partner institutions and sponsors, it will serve as a model for how collaboration and shared expertise can strengthen the stewardship of collections for the future. Attendees will learn about this new, U.S.-wide initiative during this Quick Take presentation.
Big Dreams: Building the Aerospace Workforce within a Museum, Jennifer Elliott, Manager, Youth Leadership and Alumni Programs, Intrepid Museum: Museums are known for showcasing artifacts from the past, but what if they could also be used to help build the future? In a world where women make up less than 20% of the aerospace workforce, the Intrepid Museum aims to show young women in New York City what real opportunities are available to them in the aerospace field. Hear how this museum uses the collections, content, partners and programming to help build out a diverse workforce in a bold new era of aerospace and STEM careers.

Speakers

Brad Baer

Founder and CEO, Crafted Action

An architect, designer, and entrepreneur, Brad Baer has spent more than two decades helping organizations transform ambitious ideas into experiences worth building. His work has been trusted by nine Fortune 100 companies, leading cultural institutions, universities, and nonprofits... Read More →

Erin Carty

Web Producer, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Erin Carty is a web producer at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), in the Museum Experience and Digital Media (MEDM) division. She owns the main Museum website, www.ushmm.org, where she develops content, oversees maintenance and improvements with developers, trains... Read More →

Nancy Beatrice Bateman

Senior Registrar and Director of Collections, National Building Museum

Nancy Bateman is the Senior Registrar and Director of Collections at the National Building Museum. She manages five full-time collections specialists, oversees 30,000 square feet of gallery space, and is responsible for the Museum’s permanent collection of over 600,000 artifacts... Read More →

Jonathan Schoff

Head Preparator, Delaware Art Museum

Jonathan Schoff has been Head Preparator at the Delaware Art Museum since 2008. He oversees installations, gallery construction, lighting design, and the coordination of exhibition design and graphics for both permanent and rotating exhibitions. Working with a diverse collection... Read More →

Jennifer Elliott

Manager, Youth Leadership and Alumni Programs, Intrepid Museum

Jennifer Elliott has been at the Intrepid Museum for over a decade now working in various education roles with K-12 students and teachers, and most recently working with teens. Born and raised in Florida she has Bachelor’s degrees in both theater and astronomy from the University... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3

3:30pm EDT

The Active Power of Touch: Multisensory experiences increase visitor engagement

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT

TBA

How can "Please Touch" replace "Hands Off"? This session explores The Active Power of Touch, a landmark exhibition at the Peale Museum curated by a blind professional using a nonvisual curatorial process. By centering tactile engagement from the outset—spanning sculpture, textiles, and kinetic art— this exhibition disrupts traditional museum norms to foster deep visitor connection. We will examine the journey from nonvisual artist selection to the practicalities of tactile installation. Attendees will learn how welcoming touch transforms visitor behavior, inspires sighted artists to create multisensory work, and creates a truly inclusive environment where blind and sighted visitors engage as equals.

Session Takeaways:
•Nonvisual Curatorial Frameworks: Strategies for selecting and organizing artwork through both tactile and visual aesthetics.
•Tactile Installation Logistics: Practical methods for securing works in clay, metal, and wood to allow for safe, high-traffic hands-on exploration.
•Fostering Universal Engagement: touch facilitates intergenerational and cross-ability dialogue among visitors, moving accessibility from "specialized" to "universal."

Speakers

Cheryl Fogle-Hatch

Founder, MuseumSenses LLC

Dr. Cheryl Fogle-Hatch founded MuseumSenses LLC, a consulting firm that helps museums develop multi-sensory exhibits for everyone. Selected projects include: The Active Power of Touch and the Founding Fossils exhibits at The Peale Museum; The Please Touch tour at Macculloch Hall Historical... Read More →

Andie Townsend

Assistant Director of Operations and Programs, The Peale Museum

Andie Townsend (they/them) is the Assistant Director of Programs and Operations at The Peale, Baltimore's Community Museum. As the program coordinator, they support local artists, curators, collectives, and organizers in creating and presenting a wide range of exhibitions and events... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:30pm - 4:45pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Exhibitions

Company Panel

9:00am EDT

Bite-Sized Strategic Planning: 5 steps for success

Thursday October 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT

TBA

Creating a new strategic plan can feel like a daunting exercise. Explore potential roadblocks and pathways with experienced strategic planners from The Athenaeum of Philadelphia and The Rosenbach Library & Museum. In this session, we will look at five themes or questions executives and Board leadership will want to consider before launching a new strategic planning process. Whether you have never had a strategic plan at your institution or are an old hat at it, this session will energize you to develop a living strategic plan with broad stakeholder buy-in.

Session Takeaways:
•Learn what questions to ask to determine what type of strategic plan you need and if you need the help of a consultant
•Think about how to create the best planning team for a smooth and effective strategic planning process
•Identify strategies to create board alignment and staff buy-in so the plan stays in people’s hands instead of on the shelf
•Differentiate between internal and external goals to create a metric-based, but streamlined plan for public consumption and flexibility for your organization.

Speakers

Kelsey Scouten Bates

Executive Director, The Rosenbach Museum and Library

Kelsey Scouten Bates, John C. Haas Director of The Rosenbach Museum and Library, holds a BA in American History from the University of Maryland, College Park, and an MS in Writing from Towson University. She has worked in special collections and development at the Baltimore Museum... Read More →

Beth Hessel

Executive Director, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

Dr. Beth Shalom Hessel is Executive Director of The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, where mission-focused strategies have doubled membership and significantly increased engagement. Previously, she led the Presbyterian Historical Society, expanding individual and grant funding for community-driven... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Company Discussion/Roundtable

9:00am EDT

From Grants to Gameplay: How Museums Are Using Mobile Technology to Meet Institutional Needs

Thursday October 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT

TBA

What does it take for a small or mid-sized museum to use mobile technology in ways that actually meet visitor needs? Lynne Calamia (Roebling Museum, NJ) shares how a small museum funded and scoped its mobile work. Ethan Miller (Night Kitchen Interactive) zooms out into a trifold case study spanning Roebling, Pearl S. Buck House, and Whitesbog Historic Farm and Village — three MAAM-region museums, three approaches to mobile. Samantha Gibson (Jackie Robinson Museum, NYC) brings the engagement lens with the "Citi Field Challenge" and a Harlem walking tour.

Session Takeaways:
•How to fund the work: Roebling’s strategy for stacking grants from New Jersey state agencies with external content partnerships, and how to scope a mobile project to the budget you actually have.
•How small museums can stretch limited staff by repurposing existing collections — oral history clips, historic photos, prior research — into mobile content that reaches new audiences. Drawing on Roebling Museum’s approach of presenting existing material in fresh ways rather than developing everything from scratch.
•A realistic view of the timelines, internal capacity, and stakeholder coordination required to launch and maintain a museum mobile experience.
•Design moves that turn a static digital guide into an interactive engagement tool, drawing on the Jackie Robinson Museum’s "Citi Field Challenge" and Harlem walking tour.

Moderators

Thomas Dunne

Chief Executive Officer, STQRY

Thomas Dunne is the CEO of STQRY, a mobile platform that helps museums, parks, and cultural sites build digital visitor experiences. Under his leadership, STQRY has worked with hundreds of institutions across North America to launch mobile guides, interactive activities, and audience... Read More →

Speakers

Lynne Calamia

Executive Director, Roebling Museum

As Executive Director of Roebling Museum, Lynne Calamia brings the story of Roebling, NJ — a former steel mill and company town — to life. Lynne has led the museum’s recent digital initiatives, including securing awards from New Jersey state agencies and managing external creative... Read More →

Samantha Gibson

Director of Education, Jackie Robinson Museum

Samantha Gibson is the Director of Education at the Jackie Robinson Museum, where she helps connect Jackie Robinson’s legacy to new audiences both inside the museum and beyond it. Samantha led the educational and content design of the museum’s Harlem walking tour and the "Citi... Read More →

Ethan Miller

Digital Media Lead, Night Kitchen Interactive

Ethan Miller is the Digital Media Lead at Night Kitchen Interactive, a creative agency designing scalable digital, mobile, and immersive experiences tailored to fit. He presents a trifold case study across three institutions — Roebling Museum, Pearl S. Buck House, and Whitesbog... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Technology

Company Panel

9:00am EDT

Museum Programs for People with Memory Loss Benefit Everyone: How to start or strengthen yours

Thursday October 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT

TBA

Museums are ideally situated to make a difference in the health of their communities and are especially well-equipped to support individuals living with memory loss and those who care for them. Whether you are thinking of starting a program or looking for inspiration to refresh your approach, this session will provide you with ideas and information to take back to your museum based on sixteen years of experience with Arts & Minds at the Studio Museum in Harlem. This work is adaptable to museums of all kinds.

Session Takeaways:
•Understand the thinking behind effective museum program design for people with dementia and their caregivers
•Understand the clinical basis for museum programs designed to support individuals with dementia and their caregivers.
•Evaluate potential program impact and how it may apply in their community
•Apply new knowledge to explain the value of museum programming for adults with dementia and their care partners.

Moderators

Carolyn Halpin-Healy

Executive Director, Arts & Minds

Carolyn Halpin-Healy, Executive Director of Arts & Minds, is a career museum educator and co-founder, with Dr. James M. Noble, Columbia University. We provide museum-based programming for people with dementia and their caregivers to improve wellbeing. Ms. Halpin-Healy provides training... Read More →

Speakers

Monique Hedmann, MD

Director of Adult Medicine, Baywell Health

Dr. Hedmann is a board-certified Family Medicine physician specializing in Geriatric Medicine. In my role, I work closely with patients with diagnoses of dementia and their caregivers. Prior to entering the field of medicine, I established a career in public health and aging, which... Read More →

Shanta Lawson

Senior Director of Learning and Engagement, The Studio Museum in Harlem

Shanta Lawson is a museum education professional and arts and cultural leader with more than 20 years of experience in the field. She has an established record of visioning, developing and sustaining a range of programs that engage broad audiences, including 16 years of experience... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Company Panel

9:00am EDT

Strategies & Struggles: New Technology in Collections

Thursday October 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT

TBA

Technology promises a lot (and sometimes delivers!) but can cause as many problems as it solves if collection-specific needs are not part of the conversation early and often. Three collections professionals at very different institutions will speak to the wins and losses they've had recently with the use of technology to manage their specific collections and lessons learned.

Session Takeaways:
•Recognize that institution-wide technology procurement decisions must account for the specialized requirements of collections management, preservation, and access, which may differ from the needs of other museum departments.
•Identify practical and cost-effective technology solutions that can help collections staff address capacity gaps, streamline workflows, and maximize limited resources.
•Evaluate the appropriate role of technology in collections work, understanding both its benefits and its limitations, and advocate for additional staffing or resources when human expertise and labor remain essential.

Speakers

Emily Davidson

Collections Manager & Registrar, Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture

Em Davidson is the Collections Manager & Registrar of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture in Baltimore, Maryland. She has an M.A. in Museum Studies from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. in American Studies & Classics from Northwestern University... Read More →

Bryn Cooley

Collection Manager, National Building Museum

Bryn Cooley is the Collections Manager at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., where she collaboratively manages a collection of over 600,000 architectural drawings, photographs, tools, toys, archives, and more. She also serves as the primary database administrator for... Read More →

Kelsey Wiggins

Collection Manager & Registrar, Mars, Incorporated

Kelsey Wiggins is the first Collections Manager & Registrar of the Mars Museum and Archives for Mars, Incorporated. She has an M.A. in Museum Studies from George Washington University, an M.A. in Medieval History from the University of Leeds in the U.K., and a B.A. in Business with... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Collections Stewardship

Company Panel

1:30pm EDT

Bucking the Trends at the Delaware Art Museum

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT

TBA

Art museums nationwide face declining attendance, aging audiences, shifting donor priorities, and competition. Yet some are growing post-pandemic by redefining relevance, access, and value. This case study shares practical strategies from the Delaware Art Museum that counter these trends and drive growth.

Through audience-centered programming, community co-creation, and mission-aligned revenue diversification, DelArt has rebuilt momentum. The presentation highlights reframing the museum as a civic asset—socially responsive, inclusive, and essential to community life. Attendees will gain actionable ideas, guiding questions, and renewed confidence to lead museums toward a more sustainable, impactful future while adapting to evolving public expectations and financial realities.

Session Takeaways:
•How to create annual SMART goals that align with your strategic plan, mission, and new initiatives while engaging staff across the organization
•Examples of reframing audience-centered, sustained engagement in a post-pandemic context
•Approaches to building authentic, long-term partnerships with both traditional and nontraditional arts and culture organizations
•Strategies for using metrics to prioritize SMART goals and expand programming while balancing your budget

Moderators

Lise Dube-Scherr

Director of Advancement, Delaware Art Museum

Lise Dube‑Scherr is a cultural leader with more than 25 years of experience in Canadian and American art museums, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Allentown Art Museum, and the Driehaus Museum. She has held executive director and senior roles in education, curatorial... Read More →

Speakers

Heather Morrissey

Director of Operations and Engagement, Delaware Art Museum

Molly Giordano

Executive Director, Delaware Art Museum

Molly Giordano has served as the Executive Director of the Delaware Art Museum since 2021. Molly began her professional career in politics as a member of Jack Markell’s gubernatorial campaign in 2008, gaining experience in communications. In 2010, she joined the DelArt, initially... Read More →

Iz Balleto

Cultural Programs Manager, Delaware Art Museum

Iz Balleto, Cultural Programs Manager at the Delaware Art Museum, develops programs that elevate the artistic and cultural contributions of Delaware’s BIPOC communities. Born in Peru and raised in New York City, he brings a deep, personal connection to art and culture. Since moving... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Fundraising & Revenue

Company Panel

1:30pm EDT

Making Inclusive Museums Now: Lessons from the Field

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT

TBA

Type 3, Accessibility / Inclusive Design

JSA/MIXdesign, Queens Museum, and the Whitney Museum of American Art demonstrate how an inclusive design firm and art museums can move beyond code compliance to translate progressive principles into projects and guidelines.

JSA/MIX will share findings from the MIXmuseum initiative (2018–present), which developed inclusive design recommendations across partner museums, published in the Making Inclusive Museums Now report with the Architectural League.

The session then highlights two applications: the Queens Museum, from a 2019 pilot to a current capital project creating an Older Adult Hub; and the Whitney Museum, where accessibility guidelines address digital and physical visitor experience.

Session Takeaways:
•Understand how accessibility and inclusion in museums is evolving and how it shapes expectations for physical space and visitor experience.
•Identify gaps between accessibility goals and how they are realized in capital projects, and strategies for addressing them.
•Learn how participatory design processes can be used to engage diverse stakeholders and inform decision-making across multiple project types
•Explore real-world examples and strategies for translating inclusive goals into spatial outcomes, whether through policy/guidelines or architectural interventions.

Moderators

Joel Sanders

Principal, JSA/MIXdesign

Joel Sanders, FAIA, is an award-winning architect, designer, writer, and professor specializing in inclusive design. Sanders is the founder of JSA/MIXdesign, an inclusive design studio that makes everyday building types accessible and welcoming to all people. JSA/MIXdesign initiatives... Read More →

Speakers

Debra Wimpfheimer

Executive Director, Queens Museum

A native of Queens, Debra Wimpfheimer has dedicated her career to cultural institutions, building a strong presence in the art world. She joined the Queens Museum in 2002 as Director of External Affairs and has played a central role in its growth. Her work includes leading major fundraising... Read More →

Kimaada Le Gendre

Chief Learning Officer, Queens Museum

Kimaada Le Gendre is Chief Learning Officer at the Queens Museum and Director of The Suna Children’s Museum, where she leads the Museum’s education, youth, family, adult, school, accessibility, and public engagement initiatives. Her work focuses on advancing inclusive, community-centered... Read More →

Dyeemah Simmons

Director of Learning and Social Impact, Whitney Museum of American Art

Dyeemah Simmons (she/her) is an educator and arts worker focused on collaborating with artists to develop spaces for marginalized communities to create, commune, and gain access to critical resources. She is currently the Director of Learning and Social Impact at the Whitney where... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Company Panel

1:30pm EDT

The Rise, Fall, and Rise Again of Hinchliffe Stadium: Paterson’s Sporting Jewell

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT

TBA

Cultural preservation plays a vital role in telling the nation’s full history, including advocating on behalf of African American historic places. Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, NJ, played a vital role in Negro League baseball history, a precursor to the Civil Rights movement. The renovation and reinterpretation of Hinchliffe Stadium is a success story exploring architectural renovation, local and national advocacy, community engagement, use of historic tax credits, reinterpretation, and modern-day use. Hinchliffe highlights the importance that historic places represent in the diverse heritage of our nation and serves as a model in preserving the most important landmarks in American history.

Session Takeaways:
•Understand the process of cultural preservation of an African American historic site for modern-day use
•Learn how to create local and national advocacy to support a project
•Understand the role historic tax credits play in the private rehabilitation of income-producing historic structures
•Reinterpret an historic sporting structure and the Negro Leagues for a modern-day audience

Moderators

Doug Stark

Moderator, Douglas Stark Consultant

Douglas Stark focuses on making history more engaging, relevant, and accessible to a diverse audience. He has held positions at the Basketball Hall of Fame, USGA Museum,, and Tennis HOF where he was part of capital projects that rebuilt two sports museums. He currently serves as a... Read More →

Speakers

Brian LoPinto

Founder, Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium

Brian LoPinto, is the Founder of the Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium and Hinchliffe Stadium historian. The Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium is a volunteer non-profit organization founded in 2002 to save and revitalize one of the last surviving Negro League ballparks in the United Stat... Read More →

Larry Doby

Executive Manager

Larry Doby Jr., is the son of Larry Doby, a Baseball Hall of Famer who grew up in Paterson and first played in the Negro Leagues before breaking the color barrier in the American League. Doby Jr., is a Montclair resident.

Chris Coke

Executive Manager, H2M architects + engineers

Christopher Coke is an Executive Manager and Civil Engineer currently based in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. He has a long history in municipal infrastructure and urban development, serving as a key advocate for historic civil projects like the revitalization of Hinchliffe... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Preservation

Company Panel

3:00pm EDT

Archives Together: Community, Collections, and Connections

Thursday October 8, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

TBA

Surratt Historic Site and Museum successfully deployed its Archives Together: A Community Approach (ATCA) initiative with funding from the Maryland Center for History and Culture. This program engaged community members in family history preservation, recruited archives fellows, and developed sustainable approaches to community-minded archival practices. ATCA increased the museum’s intellectual control of its archives, and heightened community investment in the museum’s resources. The success of ATCA can serve as a model on which other institutions can build archives-based, community-centered programming. This session will explore lessons learned and offer participants a chance to ideate on similar projects on a small budget.

Session Takeaways:
•Effective community engagement on a shoestring budget
•Fostering trust in your institution as a resource beyond traditional perceptions
•Providing critical career experiences to emerging professionals with measurable impacts on collections control

Moderators

Rhiannon O'Neil

Collections Manager, Surratt Historic Site and Museum

Rhiannon O’Neil is an emergent museum collections professional with a vested interest in using material culture to bridge the past and the present. Their master’s thesis explored the material embodiment of gender in late colonial Virginia, arguing that clothing became a contested... Read More →

Speakers

Haley Herrmann

Archivist, Surratt Historic Site and Museum

Haley Herrmann is an early-career museum collections and archives professional with a B.A. in Classics from the University of Colorado and an M.A. in Museum Studies, with a concentration in Collections Management, from the George Washington University. Her work centers on community... Read More →

Veronica Gallardo

Director, Surratt Historic Site and Museum

Veronica Gallardo is a public history practitioner with 19 years of experience at several historical sites. She is currently Director of the Surratt Historic Site and Museum. Her mission is to keep cultural institutions relevant by promoting comprehensive, inclusive history, strategically... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Company Panel

3:00pm EDT

Beyond Touchscreens: Creative Uses of Digital Media to Shape Space and Engagement

Thursday October 8, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

TBA

Design constraints can be frustrating, but they can also inspire more engaging and accessible solutions. How can docents present images in a space where nothing can be mounted? How can we bring documents to life without using screens? How can we teach young visitors to play a game without using words? This session explores case studies in historic buildings and children’s exhibits, where creative digital media interfaces addressed fundamental challenges.

Session Takeaways:
•Evaluate the types of digital media interfaces that may work in your exhibit space.
•Identify digital media approaches that can be used when space, power, and mounting options are constrained.
•Apply universal design principles to innovative user interfaces.

Moderators

Blair Chisholm

Interactive Producer, Quatrefoil Associates

Blair Chisholm has been an Interactive Producer at Quatrefoil Associates since 2019, where they have worked with over 20 clients to bring exhibits to life with interactive technology. Blair’s work spans the entire development lifecycle, from initial brainstorming through post-installation... Read More →

Speakers

Susan Cook

Senior Exhibit Specialist, Meadowside Nature Center

Susan Cook is a Senior Exhibit Specialist at Montgomery Parks, where she strives to inspire awe, curiosity, and a joyful connection to nature. By integrating design thinking with hands-on fabrication, Susan creates immersive natural experiences through tactile elements, soundscapes... Read More →

Gina Lewis

Curatorial & Interpretation Specialist, Riversdale Historic Site and Museum

Gina Lewis joined Riversdale Historic Site and Museum in 2020 where she serves as Curatorial & Interpretation Specialist. With more than 20 years of experience across small historic sites and major cultural institutions, Gina is committed to uncovering and sharing stories—especially... Read More →

Kaili Lockbeam

Assistant Director, Riversdale Historic Site & Museum

Kaili Lockbeam has an MA in Museum Studies from GWU. For three years Kaili served as Registrar at the Reginald F. Lewis, where she brought the collection online, managed an oral history project, and oversaw several temporary exhibitions. Kaili is the Assistant Director of Riversdale... Read More →

Samantha Palmer

Director of Brand Experience and Merchandise Licensing, Flagler College

Flagler College tourism and brand experience leader Samantha Palmer serves as Director of Brand Experience and Merchandise Licensing, overseeing Historic Tours of Flagler College. With expertise in heritage tourism, destination storytelling, retail strategy, and visitor engagement... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Type 3, Exhibitions

Company Panel

3:00pm EDT

What Comes Next? Museums, Race, and the Work Ahead

Thursday October 8, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

TBA

Launched in 2020, Smithsonian’s Reckoning with Our Racial Past initiative weaves together collections, interdisciplinary research, and convening power to explore the enduring legacies of race and racism. Since then, the museum field—and the broader public landscape—has significantly shifted.

Today, we are embarking on a regional wide effort to hear from colleagues on what comes next. We want to hear from you to understand how museums are navigating racial equity today—what’s working, what’s challenging, and what kinds of support are most needed. Insights gathered here will help shape future resources, convenings, and evaluation approaches grounded in the realities of the field. Your perspectives will play a critical role in shaping the next chapter of this work.

Session Takeaways:
•Listen and reflect on the core throughlines: challenges and opportunities, from dialogue to action, and measuring impact
•Hear and share examples of how the work has not stopped- it has shifted. Hear strategies and/or opportunities other museums have undertaken to continue their work on racial equity
•Participate in shaping the initiative’s next steps on possible workshops, convenings, or educational resources.

Moderators

Patty Arteaga

Public Programs Manager, Smithsonian Institution-Reckoning with Our Racial Past

Patty Arteaga is the Public Programs Manager for the Smithsonian’s Reckoning with Our Racial Past initiative, where she collaborates with external museums to explore the legacies of race and racism. She leads the National Conversations on Race series, using museum objects and programs... Read More →

Speakers

Maureen O'Connor

Education Specialist, Smithsonian Institution-Reckoning with Our Racial Past

Maureen O’Connor is the Education Specialist in the Reckoning with Our Racial Past Initiative. For over a decade, she has designed and facilitated interdisciplinary programs for K12 students, educators, and museum professionals at various state and national museums. In addition... Read More →

Dr. Pei Koay

Social Science Analyst, Smithsonian Institution-Reckoning with Our Racial Past

Dr. Pei Koay is an interdisciplinary leader & management specialist with over 15 years of specialized experience in aligning vision, theory, & practice to create trans-disciplinary spaces of learning, collaboration, dialogue, and engagement. She currently serves as the Reckoning with... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
TBA 100 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901