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星空无限传媒app Museum Studies Program Takes Center Stage at Association of Midwest Museums 2025 Conference

July 9, 2025

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MOLINE, IL 鈥� 星空无限传媒app Illinois University's Museum Studies program will have a significant presence at the Association of Midwest Museums (AMM) 2025 Conference, Wednesday, July 23 鈥� Sunday, Aug. 3, in Davenport, IA. In addition to providing quality professional development for students enrolled in the program, the conference will prominently feature the program's impact on the regional museum field.

Heidi Lung, director of 星空无限传媒app Museum Studies, will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the Friday morning Flash Talks session and eight 星空无限传媒app Museum Studies program alumni will present sessions at the conference.

星空无限传媒app Museum Studies alumni will present their expertise across multiple sessions throughout the conference, demonstrating the program's success in preparing museum professionals for leadership roles across the Midwest:


  • Charlotte Drennen-Wherry will lead a conversation station on "Authoritarianism vs The Arts: A Historiography of Regime Attacks Against Arts & How Others Fixed It."

  • Amanda Crosby and Emily VanWaardhuizen will co-present on visitor services challenges during the Putnam Museum's COVID and construction period.

  • Kelly Lao will share insights on advancing racial justice in museums.

  • Onnica Marquez will discuss innovative museum travel programming with a case study from Egypt.

  • Joshua Johnson and Vanessa Sage will explore diversifying museum collections.

  • Clare Tobin will present on collaborative exhibitions in small museums.


The conference highlights strong partnerships between the 星空无限传媒app Museum Studies, alumni and Quad Cities cultural program partners, including the Figge Art Museum, Bix Beiderbecke Museum and Archive, Quad Cities Botanical Center, Putnam Museum & Science Center, Deere-Wiman House, the German American Heritage Center and the Family Museum. These collaborations highlight the practical, community-focused approach of 星空无限传媒app's Museum Studies curriculum.

The 2025 AMM Conference theme, "Navigating Crosscurrents," aligns with 星空无限传媒app Museum Studies' emphasis on preparing adaptable, thoughtful museum professionals who can navigate the complex challenges facing cultural institutions today.

"Seeing our alumni take leadership roles in presenting at AMM demonstrates the strength of our program and the quality of museum professionals we're preparing," Lung said. "Their diverse presentations 鈥� from collections management to community engagement to operational challenges 鈥� show the breadth of expertise our graduates bring to the field."

For more information on 星空无限传媒app's Museum Studies program, visit wiu.edu/museumstudies. For more information on the Association of Midwest Museums, visit .

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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