March 31 | 2026

Members of the SEMC Council gathered in Winston-Salem. We had a few on Zoom too! L-R: Ahmad Ward, Brigette Jones, Calinda Lee, Eboni Belton, Katie Ericson-Baskin, Katy Malone, Matt Davis, Tamara Herring, Scott Warren, Felicia Knise, Zinnia Willits, and Michelle Schulte.

Each March, the SEMC Council gathers in the conference host city for its mid-year meeting, an important opportunity to focus on strategic priorities, strengthen leadership, and connect with the host community. This year in Winston-Salem, the Council advanced planning for the 2026 Annual Meeting and SEMC’s 75th Anniversary, reviewed financial forecasts and fundraising strategies, and engaged in working group discussions on revenue, membership, and organizational sustainability to help guide SEMC’s future direction. Council and Program Committee members also had the opportunity to explore Winston-Salem, relax after long meeting days, and have some fun!

SEMC is celebrating 75 years of service to museum professionals across the Southeast and the race for the 2026 Council Cup is heating up! For two years running, North Carolina has claimed the Cup. Will they make it a three-peat, or is another state ready to rise? At the end of March 2026, Georgia is in the lead — with FLORIDA now a close second!

Even more exciting: All 75th Anniversary gifts designated for SEMC General Operations in FY2026 count toward your state’s Council Cup total!



The winning state will be determined by total contributions to General Operations made between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, with the Cup awarded at SEMC2026 in Winston-Salem, NC.

Your gift supports:

• Paid student internships
• Professional development programs
• SEMC communications
• Annual Meeting travel stipends

No gift is too small to make a difference. Every dollar helps your state climb the leaderboard.

Celebrate 75 years. Support your colleagues. Bring home the Cup.

Greetings, Members!



The 2026 SEMC Program Committee gathered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on March 12th for one of the most exciting and daunting tasks of the year: selecting the sessions and workshops that will shape the SEMC2026 annual meeting. With a record-breaking 120 submissions, the Committee faced an impressive challenge. The caliber of proposals was nothing short of outstanding, making every decision a careful balancing act. The Committee arrived in Winston-Salem with a shared purpose to craft a program that is dynamic, inclusive, and reflective of the ever-evolving museum field.

After a full day of discussions and planning, the group took a well-earned break to explore Winston-Salem. A guided tour of Kaleideum offered us a chance to play and discover, followed by an evening sampling the city's vibrant food and entertainment scene.



Each year, I have the privilege of working alongside the Program Committee, a diverse team of museum professionals spanning career stages, disciplines, and institutions. SEMC is committed to broadening perspectives in this process. I couldn’t be prouder of this year’s Program Committee and the thoughtful work they’ve done. I can’t wait to share the preliminary program with you later this spring. Winston-Salem is shaping up to be a conference to remember!

Heather Nowak

SEMC Program Administrator

2026 SEMC Program Committee in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

SEMC Council and Program Committee members tour Kaleideum.

Winston-Salem backdrop to a very fun Council/Program Committee excursion!

Who doesn't love a rooftop playground? Kaleideum will host the Tuesday evening event at SEMC2026. This is not the year to miss!

SEMC 2017 Program Committee, New Orleans, Louisiana

2019 Program Committee, Charleston, South Carolina

SEMC partners play a vital role in shaping a dynamic and impactful Annual Meeting. Sponsor SEMC2026 in Winston-Salem to connect with museum professionals across the Southeast, showcase your expertise, and show your commitment to the field.

We invite you to consider sponsoring the SEMC Annual Meeting to support learning, collaboration, and innovation in the museum community.

SEMC sponsors enjoyed a special rooftop reception with museum directors from across the southeast hosted by the LSU Museum of Art at SEMC2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

SEMC Membership Drive

Bring 3. Grow SEMC. Get rewarded.

This April, we are inviting YOU to help grow the SEMC community by participating in our April Individual Membership Drive, running April 2–30. When you help bring new voices into our network, you will be eligible to snag a FREE 2026 SEMC conference registration.

How does this work?

Invite at least three new colleagues to join SEMC as individual members, and when they join by May 15th, you will be eligible to win a free conference registration. Be sure to ask them to list your name on the membership form, so you receive credit for the referral.

I’m a Bundle member with my institution. Can I participate?

Absolutely! Please join as an individual member and invite your fellow bundle members to join as individuals as well. Remember, an individual membership is yours to keep—no matter where your career takes you. Whether you change roles, institutions, or even states, your SEMC membership stays with you, keeping you connected to your professional network every step of the way.

The sweet part about this? You’ll count as one of the three new member recruits needed to be eligible for a FREE SEMC conference registration! We have many members who are individual members while also being in their institution’s bundle. It’s a great benefit!

How can student members participate?

Student members who successfully recruit and convert at least three new student members during this period will be eligible to receive a $100 Visa gift card.



Please reach out to me for additional details about the April Individual Membership Drive, and feel free to utilize the Membership Drive Materials to help with recruitment!

Be sure to follow us on social media:

Instagram: semcdirect

Facebook: southeasternmuseums

X: semc2

We appreciate your membership support and welcome your feedback.

Have a fantastic week,

Carla Phillips

Membership & Communications Manager

cphillips@semcdirect.net

Thank you for supporting SEMC through membership!

SEMC Ones to Watch spotlights museum talent making an impact across our region.

This month SEMC proudly features September Krueger, as the One to Watch! September is the Curator of Education and Public Programs at the Cameron Art Museum (CAM) in Wilmington, North Carolina.

September's nomination letter highlights her commitment to inclusive programming that removes barriers and brings meaningful museum experiences to underserved communities. 

"September is CAM’s Curator of Education and Public Programs. She leads CAM’s outreach into the community for all ages. September makes CAM programming accessible and available, removing barriers by taking outreach on the road and leading programs for underserved youth, veterans, and cancer patients, among others. She continually challenges the museum to think about removing barriers to access. She is leading CAM’s Rising Stars exhibition for high school students from the predominantly rural area the museum serves and deepens the museum’s relationship with local black and brown communities.”

Congratulations, September Krueger: One to Watch!

Consider nominating an emerging or mid-career museum professional as a "one to watch" and help SEMC identify and recognize those who are enhancing the profession in a special way and working to make a difference in their community through work in a museum. Nominees do not have to be current SEMC members. In fact, we'll give non-members an individual membership in recognition of their great work!

Have questions? Contact Zinnia Willits at zwillits@semcdirect.net

The Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College, in Lynchburg, VA, an SEMC Institutional Member since 2022, is a vibrant cultural anchor in central Virginia, known for its outstanding collection of American art spanning the 19th through 21st centuries.

Located on the campus of Randolph College, the museum offers visitors an engaging mix of historic and contemporary works, with strengths in American Impressionism and modern art. Through thoughtfully curated exhibitions and educational programs, the Maier Museum fosters meaningful connections between art, students, and the broader community.

Currently on view, The Moon and Reverie: Works by Kathy Muehlemann explores decades of the artist’s atmospheric, moon-inspired abstractions, while the museum’s long-running Annual Exhibition of Contemporary Art highlights the enduring power of painting in today’s digital age.

Looking ahead, the museum’s 2026 season includes The Legacy of Louise Jordan Smith: Artist, Educator, Visionary, honoring the founding force behind Randolph College’s art program, as well as Crossing the Line: The Passport Re-Imagined, a nationally touring exhibition that rethinks identity and global movement through the lens of the passport.

Beyond exhibitions, the Maier offers engaging programs that bring art to life for a wide range of audiences—from visiting artist lectures and gallery talks to creative community events. For more information about The Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College, visit their website, https://maiermuseum.org/.

Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College

SEMC IS THANKFUL FOR ALL THE MARCH 2026 NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS!

SEMC staff has the opportunity to interact with members across the region each week...and we see and hear so much. Watch this E-News feature for information we pick up in weekly calls, emails, Zooms, and in-person visits with members!

It was a joy to attend the Blue & BBQ event this past weekend at Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, a fun afternoon filled with great music, community, and connection. I was especially glad to see friends and support the incredible work of SEMC Vice President Ahmad Ward, Executive Director of Historic Mitchelville, and his team. The event raised funds to advance the park’s mission, particularly its educational outreach efforts, which help preserve and share the powerful story of freedom and self-governance that began at Mitchelville, the first self-governed town of formerly enslaved people in the United States. It was a meaningful reminder of the impact of this work and the community that sustains it.

A wonderful day of friends and philanthropy! (L-R: Zinnia Willits, Ahmad Ward, Dr. Deborah Mack, Stacey Watson)

Congratulations on making it to the end of another E-News!

One more thing before you go....

My husband just renewed my subscription to The Bitter Southerner for my birthday (welcome to Aries season!). I am continually inspired by this publication and its ability to tell rich, layered stories that capture the complexity, beauty, and contradictions of the South. Each piece feels deeply rooted yet expansive, reminding me that our region is not just a place, but a living tapestry of voices, histories, and perspectives. As the Bitter Southerner so perfectly put it: "South. Plain and simple. The source of all our muses, inspirations, and weirdnesses. The region we call home.” If you haven’t explored it yet, it’s absolutely worth your time. There’s something in every issue that will stay with you.

With respect and admiration for all you do,

Zinnia Willits

SEMC Executive Director