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 2023 attendees will have opportunities to experience and learn from the rich historic resources, sites and tours on Jekyll Island

Thank you to the 2023 Jekyll Island Management Institute Sponsors

With additional support from: 

Mary Miller

Heather Nowak

Arkansas Museums Association

Mississippi Museums Association

North Carolina Museums Council

JIMI2023 Instructors

JIMI Instructors provide subject area expertise and practical approaches to administrative challenges. Click HERE to see session descriptions. 

Amy Bartow-Melia Executive Director South Carolina State Museum JIMI 2023 Subjects:  Accreditation Strategic Planning	David Butler, Ph.D. Executive Director Knoxville Museum of Art JIMI 2023 Subjects: Boards Ethics	Robin Bauer Kilgo Consultant/Independent   Registrar TarraLou Consulting, LLC JIMI 2023 Subjects:   Collections Planning   Disaster Preparedness
Cierra Selby Digital Marketing Specialist The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art JIMI 2023 Subjects:  Social Media Internal Communications	Mattie Codling Director of Collections and Exhibitions Walter Anderson Museum of Art JIMI 2023 Subject:  Curation	Nancy Fields Director and Curator Museum of the Southeast American Indian JIMI 2023Subject:  Community Engagement
Stefanie Green Business, Operations & Communications Manager Kennesaw State University, Department of Museums, Archives & Rare Books JIMI 2023 Subjects: Budgeting Human Resources	Shawn Halifax Executive Director Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House Historic Sites JIMI 2023 Subject: Interpretation	Virginia Howell Executive Director Robert C.  Williams  Museum of Papermaking JIMI 2023 Subjects:  Education  Public Programming
Felicia Ingram Manager of Interpretation, Accessibility, and Diversity North Carolina Museum of Art JIMI 2023 Subject: Accessibility	Elise LeCompte Registrar, Coordinator of Museum Health and Safety, Adjunct Professor Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida JIMI 2023 Subjects: Collections Care Archives and Records	Ellen Lofaro, Ph.D. Director of Repatriation & Curator of Archaeology, University of Tennessee JIMI 2023 Subject: Community Engagement
Skye Malish-Olson Head of Exhibition Design   High Museum of Art JIMI 2023 Subject:   Exhibition Design	Anne McCuddon Executive Director Thomasville History Center JIMI 2023 Subjects: Staff and Volunteer Management	Linda McNay Founder/Owner Our Fundraising Search JIMI 2023 Subjects:  Capital Campaigns Major Gifts
David Paule Sr. Fundraising Consultant Our Fundraising Search  JIMI 2023 Subjects: Membership Corporate Sponsorship	Robin Reed Museum Consultant  Jan McKay and Associates JIMI 2023 Subject: The Changing Museum Field JIMI2023 Facilitator

 learn more about each JIMI2023 INSTRUCTOR!

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 JIMI2023 cohort is comprised of 16-18 individuals selected via an application process. All applications were reviewed by the JIMI2023 Selection Committee comprised of SEMC Council members and JIMI alums.

*JIMI2023 Schedule

*August 30, 2022: Please note this is a working schedule and may be subject to change.

JIMI2023 Tuition

Tuition for the 8-day program is $850 for SEMC members or members of another museum professional organization ($950 for all others) and includes instruction and Institute resources. Some meals will be provided.

JIMI2023 Lodging/On-Island Transportation

Lodging at the oceanfront host hotel, the Hampton Inn & Suites, Jekyll Island, is available at the SEMC group rate of $139-$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 2023 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 JIMI), the Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) is pleased to offer two scholarships to cover 2023 program tution. Learn more about the LaPaglia Scholarship. The application period for 2023 LaPaglia Scholarships has closed. Please check back for future JIMI programs.

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 JIMI2023 Tuition Scholarships:

• The Arkansas Museums Association offers a full tuition scholarship ($850) for one JIMI attendee from Arkansas. Contact AMA more information at arkansasmuseums@gmail.com. 
• The Mississippi Museums Association offers a $500 JIMI Scholarship for any Mississippi resident accepted into the program. Email mississippimuseums@comcast.net to request funds.

• North Carolina Museums Council offers a full tuition scholarship ($850) for one JIMI attendee from North Carolina. Visit the website for more information. 

JIMI Sponsorship Opportunities

Consider supporting SEMC's successful Jekyll Island Management Institute (JIMI) as it moves toward the 2023 relaunch! 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

Click on the video below to learn more about the evaluation the Jekyll Island Management Institute underwent in 2021.

Information about JIMI's first twenty years  can be found in our brochure. 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT :

Zinnia Willits Executive Director Southeastern Museums Conference Phone: 404.814.2048 zwillits@semcdirect.net