2025 Jekyll Island Management Institute (JIMI)January 21-28, 2025The Jekyll Island Management Institute will be offered January 21 - 28, 2025.The Application Period FOR JIMI2025 has closed.All applicants will be informed of the outcome by mid-November 2024 *Anyone who planned to apply for JIMI2025 but was delayed by Hurricane Helene impacts, late applications will be considered! Please reach out when you can. zwillits@semcdirect.net or text 843-224-0876 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE JIMI CLASS OF 20232023 JIMI COHORTWant to learn more about the Jekyll Island Management Institute? Watch the information session below to hear from program alums, instructors and administrators! |
Special thanks to JIMI alums Adrienne Nirde, Lisa Fields, Scotty Almany and Nancy Strickland Chavis for sharing their experience with the program!
Program Overview
The Jekyll Island Management Institute (JIMI) is an immersive experience for museum professionals who seek to broaden their understanding of museum operations in order to advance to management or leadership roles in the museum field.
During the 8-day Institute, participants will learn current best practices of visitor-facing and behind-the-scenes work in museums with a focus on incorporating diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion, and the use of technology into all subjects. JIMI attendees will have the opportunity to hear from current experts across the museum field and work collaboratively with peers to discuss challenges and solutions to real world museum issues.
All sessions will be held at Villa Ospo in the Jekyll Island Historic District
The Institute will be structured as a tour of the museum. Sessions will use case studies to allow students to identify and discuss best practices in a range of visitor-facing and behind-the-scenes roles in a museum. Rather than taking a deep dive into any particular role, participants will receive an overview and come away with a better understanding of how the roles in a museum work together to form an institution. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from current experts in the field and from each other during sessions covering participant’s areas of expertise.
Target Learning Objectives
Through a series of practical application exercises, students will become familiar with current best practices in visitor facing and behind-the-scenes museum work while developing a network of museum professionals.
JIMI 2025 attendees will have opportunities to experience and learn from the rich historic resources, sites and tours on Jekyll Island
Thank you to the 2025 Jekyll Island Management Institute Sponsors
This program is supported in part by Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. Georgia Council for the Arts also receives support from its partner agency - the National Endowment for the Arts.
Meet the JIMI2025 Instructors!
JIMI Instructors provide subject area expertise and practical approaches to administrative challenges. 2025 session descriptions coming soon!
Adam Alfrey Assistant Director for Historical Services East Tennessee History Center JIMI 2025 Subject: |
Kristopher Allen Senior Manager of School & Volunteer Programs Michael C. Carlos Museum JIMI 2025 Subject: Visitor Services |
Amy Bartow-Melia Executive Director South Carolina State Museum JIMI 2025 Subjects: Strategic Planning |
Marcy Breffle Consultant Purpose Possible JIMI 2025 Subject: |
Rebecca Bush Curator of History & Exhibitions Manager The Columbus Museum JIMI 2025 Subject: |
Dr. Nancy Strickland Chavis Director and Curator Museum of the Southeast American Indian JIMI 2025 Subject: |
Chris Cook Director of Education Louisiana State Museum JIMI 2025 Subject: Education |
Stefanie Green Interim Operations Officer Kennesaw State University JIMI 2025 Subjects: Budgeting Human Resources |
Erica Hague Collections Manager Atlanta History Center JIMI 2025 Subjects: Registration |
Shawn Halifax Museums & Historic Sites Consultant Fairfax County Park Authority JIMI 2025 Subject: Overview of the Changing Museum Field |
Virginia Howell Director Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking JIMI 2025 Subject Public Programs |
Felicia Ingram Head of Interpretation North Carolina Museum of Art JIMI 2025 Subject: Accessibility |
Kevin Kane Software Developer North Carolina Museum of Art JIMI 2025 Subject: |
Dr. Ellen Lofaro Director of Repatriation University of Tennessee, Knoxville JIMI 2025 Subject: Working With Cultural Communities |
David Paule Principal & Managing Director Our Fundraising Search JIMI 2025 Subjects: Membership |
Damon Reaves Head of Learning & Engagement National Gallery of Art JIMI 2025 Subject: Community Engagement |
Ashley Rogers Executive Director Whitney Plantation JIMI 2025 Subject: Interpretation |
Cierra Selby Digital Marketing Consultant JIMI 2025 Subject: Digital Marketing |
Melissa Tran Director of Learning Heinz History Center JIMI 2025 Subject: Education |
Ahmad Ward Executive Director Historic Mitchellville Freedom Park JIMI 2025 Subjects: Board Management Leadership |
Julie Waters Manager of Exhibit Planning Florida Museum of Natural History JIMI 2025 Subject: Exhibition Development |
Zinnia Willits Executive Director Southeastern Museums Conference JIMI 2025 Facilitator |
Who should consider attending JIMI?
The Jekyll Island Management Institute is designed for emerging and mid-career museum professionals interested in filling knowledge gaps in subjects related to museum operations required for management level and leadership positions. It is preferred (but not required) that applicants have at least two years full-time museum experience.
Application/Selection Process
The JIMI2025 cohort will include up to 20 individuals selected via an application process. All applications will be reviewed by the JIMI2025 Selection Committee comprised of SEMC Council members and JIMI alums.
*JIMI2025 Schedule
*Subject to minor curriculum changes; final schedule will be posted by September 1, 2024.
JIMI2025 Tuition
Tuition for the 8-day program is $1000 for SEMC members or members of another museum professional organization ($1100 for all others) and includes instruction and Institute resources. Some meals will be provided.
JIMI2025 Lodging/On-Island Transportation
Lodging at the oceanfront host hotel, the Hampton Inn & Suites, Jekyll Island, is available at the SEMC group rate of $159 +tax per night (depending on room type) and will be responsibility of each JIMI attendee. Large double rooms and suites are available to share. A daily full breakfast buffet (6:00AM-10:00AM) is included. A shuttle will be available to transport JIMI attendees between the Hampton Inn (south side of the Island) and Villa Ospo (session location in the Historic District - a five minute drive).
Hampton Inn and Suites, Jekyll Island, GA
All JIMI 2025 sessions will be held in the Jekyll Island Historic District
Peter S. LaPaglia Scholarship
Thanks to years of ongoing generosity of many friends and colleagues of the late Peter S. LaPaglia, co-founder of the Jekyll Island Management Institute, the Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) is pleased to offer two scholarships to cover 2025 program tuition. Click the link below to learn more and apply for a 2025 LaPaglia Scholarship.
Learn More and Apply for a LaPaglia Scholarship
Additional JIMI Scholarships
Check with your state museum association as many offer additional scholarships to cover the cost of JIMI tuition.
Confirmed State Associations Offering JIMI2025 Tuition Scholarships:
JIMI Sponsorship Opportunities
Consider supporting SEMC's successful Jekyll Island Management Institute (JIMI). This successful program has attracted applicants from all over the United States and its alumni have assumed key leadership positions in leading museums and organizations. Please contact Zinnia Willits for sponsorship information/opportunities at zwillits@semcdirect.net
Martha Battle Jackson
Upon the culmination of the Jekyll Island Management Institute’s (JIMI) 20th year in 2020, Martha Battle Jackson, JIMI founder and administrator, announced that “it is time for me to step back and let the next generation take the reins.” Martha’s dedication, commitment, and passion have made it possible for JIMI to be the most affordable, successful professional development program in the nation.
In the 20 years of JIMI’s existence, approximately 30 different faculty from around the country have shared their expertise with 339 museum professionals from 31 states, representing all regional associations, and the District of Columbia. Many have gained the confidence to assume directorships of museums, conduct capital campaigns, build new facilities or expand current ones, improve collections management practices, create new educational programs, write disaster preparedness and response manuals, obtain AAM accreditation, and take leadership roles in national, regional, and state museum associations. It truly has taken a village of people to build this program to be a national success story, so I feel confident that new JIMI leadership can build on the firm foundationwe have established.” - MBJ
SEMC has been honored to work with Martha on JIMI these many years and will work diligently to ensure the JIMI program continues to embody her vision and leadership.
John Lancaster
After working as Facilitator with Martha Battle Jackson for over a decade, John Lancaster also retired from his role with the Jekyll Island Management Institute in 2020.
“It is my hope that JIMI will prosper and continue to provide an opportunity for museum professionals to further develop their management skills and improve the overall museum experience for those that work at and visit museums in this country.”– John Lancaster
SEMC is grateful for John’s many years of service and support of this important program.