2025 Jekyll Island Management Institute (JIMI)

January 21-28, 2025  


The 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 2023 



2023 JIMI COHORT 


  

Want 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: 
Facilities/Disaster Preparedness 



 

  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:  
  Accreditation

  Strategic Planning


 


Marcy Breffle

Consultant

Purpose Possible


JIMI 2025 Subject: 
Grants


 


  Rebecca Bush

  Curator of History & Exhibitions Manager

  The Columbus Museum


  JIMI 2025 Subject: 
  Curation  


 


  Dr. Nancy Strickland Chavis

  Director and Curator

  Museum of the Southeast American  Indian


  JIMI 2025 Subject: 
  Working With Cultural Communities 


 

Chris Cook

Director of Education   

Louisiana State Museum


JIMI 2025 Subject:

Education


 

  Stefanie Green 

  Interim Operations Officer

  Kennesaw State University
  Museums, Archives, Rare  Books, & Libraries

  JIMI 2025 Subjects:

  Budgeting

  Human Resources


 


  Erica Hague

  Collections Manager

  Atlanta History Center


  JIMI 2025 Subjects: 
  Collections Management

  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:  
General Technology


 



  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: 
  Fundraising/Individual Giving

  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:

  • Arkansas Museums Association offers a full tuition scholarship for one JIMI attendee from Arkansas. Visit the website for more information. 
  • North Carolina Museums Council offers a full tuition scholarship for one JIMI attendee from North Carolina. Visit the website for more information. 
  • Mississippi Museums Association offers a full tuition scholarship for one JIMI attendee from Mississippi who is also either an individual member or who's intuition is a member of MMA. Recipient will be asked to speak at MMA's annual meeting in 2025. 
  • South Carolina Federation of Museums offers a full tuition scholarship for one JIMI attendee from South Carolina. Visit the website for more information. 

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


SUPPORT THE PETER LAPAGLIA JIMI SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND

 

THANK YOU TO PAST JIMI LEADERSHIP AND FACULTY!

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.