May 27 | 2026

Each spring, the SEMC Council works closely with staff to develop and review the organization’s budget for the coming fiscal year, an important part of the Council’s fiduciary responsibility and oversight of SEMC’s financial health and long-term sustainability. These discussions are thoughtful and collaborative, informed by the diverse expertise and leadership experience Council members bring from their own cultural institutions across the region.

The budgeting process also reflects the priorities and goals outlined in SEMC’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, helping ensure that resources are aligned with the organization’s mission and future direction. SEMC continues its longstanding professional services relationship with the Atlanta History Center, which provides additional oversight and administrative support related to accounting practices, financial controls, and annual 990 preparation. Following review and adjustments throughout the spring, the budget is formally approved in June in anticipation of SEMC’s new fiscal year beginning July 1. As part of SEMC’s commitment to transparency, the organization’s annual 990 is available on the SEMC website, and members are invited to review SEMC’s current financials each year during the Annual Business Meeting held at the conference. This year’s meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 30, during the SEMC 2026 Annual Meeting in Winston-Salem.

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 May 2026, Georgia is still in the lead — with FLORIDA coming in at a close second!



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!

Spring is always an exciting season for SEMC, as we wrap up months of planning and collaboration with the official opening of the annual meeting registration. Alongside registration, I am delighted to share the release of the SEMC2026 Preliminary Program! This year’s gathering feels especially meaningful as we celebrate 75 years of SEMC. Please take some time to explore the program and discover the special touches woven throughout this milestone year. I am especially looking forward to Tuesday’s all-conference luncheon and program!

In the months ahead, we will highlight the offerings that make SEMC2026 such a dynamic experience. From evening events and special excursions exploring the diverse culture and history of Winston-Salem and the surrounding region, to three hands-on workshops and more than 60 engaging sessions designed to inform, challenge, and inspire, this year’s conference offers something for everyone.



Below is a preview of the pre-conference tour experiences available this year. Arrive early and take the opportunity to explore Winston-Salem and the surrounding areas before the conference officially begins. Please note that tour capacities are limited and are expected to fill quickly, so we encourage you to reserve your spot as soon as possible!

The launch of the Preliminary Program is always a proud moment for me, and I am excited to share it with you.

Happy perusing,



Heather Nowak

SEMC Program Administrator

SEMC Past Presidents (L-R) Darcie MacMahon, Kristen Miller Zohn, Zinnia Willits, George Bassi, and David Butler at SEMC2021 in Chattanooga.

Current SEMC President Dr. Calinda Lee, with incoming SEMC President, Ahmad Ward at SEMC2025 in Montgomery, Alabama.

The SEMC Council with Past Presidents Sharon Bennett and Graig Shaak, at SEMC2004 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina!

SEMC Council will Past President Heather Marie Wells as SEMC2022 in Northwest Arkansas.

Zinnia Willits with Bob Sullivan, SEMC President from 1984-1986, and his wife, Nancy, last week at Brookgreen Gardens.

Past President, Matt Davis, with then Vice President Dr. Calinda Lee at SEMC2023 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Do you have an image of an SEMC past president in action? Please share with SEMC staff at zwillits@semcdirect.net

We will be crowd-sourcing images from our past throughout the summer. Stay tuned!

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 2026 Needs YOU!

Join the 75th Anniversary Volunteer Team

Want a behind-the-scenes look at what makes SEMC conferences so special? Looking for a fun way to meet fellow members, make connections, and be part of the energy that keeps the conference running smoothly?

Sign up to volunteer for SEMC 2026!

Our volunteers are the welcoming faces, helpful guides, and problem-solvers who help create an unforgettable experience for attendees. Whether you are helping at registration, assisting with sessions, or lending a hand at our SEMC Expo Booth, every volunteer will play an important role in making this 75th anniversary conference successful for all.

Did I mention there are perks?

Volunteers receive:

· An SEMC volunteer t-shirt

· A discounted conference registration rate

· The chance to connect with members from across the region

· Major “you helped make this happen” bragging rights

Volunteering is also a fantastic way for first-time attendees to get involved and meet people quickly, while longtime members can reconnect with colleagues from across the region. No matter what your experience level is, there is a place for you on our volunteer team. Volunteer shifts are designed to fit easily into your conference schedule, so you can still enjoy sessions, networking, and all the fun SEMC 2026 has to offer. Signing up for the required 2 shifts is easy breezy!

Help us create an amazing conference experience, and have a great time doing it. We can’t do it without you!

Interested in volunteering? Reach out to me today to sign up.

Registration volunteers at SEMC2025 in Montgomery, Alabama.

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 is proud to feature Rachel Gregor, as the One to Watch! Rachel is the Curator of Collections and Exhibitions at the Institutional History Museum and Galleries at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.

Rachel's nomination highlights how she has become an essential member of the team, helping shape the museum’s collections program, policies, and exhibitions during her first year, noting her initiative and professionalism!

"Rachel has quickly proven herself to be a capable professional and a key member of our team. During her first year of service, she has helped to develop our collections program (the museum opened in July 2024), developed policies, and crafted new exhibitions to support museum operations. Rachel has a bright future ahead of her in the field, and I am very glad to have her as a part of our team."

Congratulations, Rachel Gregor: 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 Timothy S. Y Lam Museum of Anthropology at Wake Forest University, an SEMC Institutional Member since 2013 (!), offers visitors a fascinating journey through global cultures and human history.

Located on the university’s campus in Winston-Salem, the museum is North Carolina’s only museum dedicated solely to the study of global cultures. Its collections feature more than 28,000 artifacts and works of art from Africa, Asia, Oceania, Latin America, and North America, highlighting both ancient traditions and contemporary cultural stories.

Originally established in 1963 by the university’s Department of Anthropology, the museum has grown into an important educational and cultural resource for both students and the broader community. Rotating exhibitions, hands-on learning opportunities, and public programs encourage visitors to explore the diversity of human experience and gain a deeper understanding of cultures around the world.

Admission is free, making the museum an accessible destination for all.

Special shout-out to LAM Museum Educator, Tina Smith, for her leadership on the SEMC 2026 local arrangements team! Her dedication is helping make SEMC’s 75th anniversary conference one to remember. THANK YOU, TINA!!!

Zinnia Willits, Tina Smith, and Dianne Pledger at the Diggs Art Gallery at Winston-Salem State, March 2026.

SEMC IS THANKFUL FOR ALL THE MAY 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!

Over the past few months, I have had the privilege of attending and supporting the annual meetings of the Georgia Association of Museums, the Virginia Association of Museums, and the North Carolina Museums Council, as well as participating in the 2026 Southeastern Art Museum Directors (SEAMD) convening in Norfolk, Virginia, and neighboring Virginia communities. These gatherings are an important reminder of how vital state and regional museum associations are to the strength of our field. Each convening had its own unique energy, warmth, and sense of connection as well as terrific engagement, thoughtful conversations, and a shared commitment to museums and the communities they serve.

Having worked in three different Georgia museums during my career, returning to the Georgia Association of Museums Annual Meeting (GAM) always feels especially meaningful, and this year marked my first opportunity to attend the Virginia Association of Museums (VAM) meeting! In North Carolina, I was grateful for the chance to speak with attendees of the 2026 North Carolina Museums Council (NCMC) Annual Meeting about SEMC and our upcoming 2026 Annual Meeting in Winston-Salem, where I received a warm welcome from leadership and attendees. And as always, time spent with the Southeastern Art Museum Directors group continues to be one of the most meaningful forms of professional development for me personally.

This spring has been an epic infusion of art, camaraderie, inspiration, and fun. Working regionally comes with both challenges and rewards, and now and then it is important to return to the foundation. I am deeply grateful to the many colleagues and friends across the region who help make that possible.

Zinnia Willits

SEMC Executive Director

North Carolina Museums Council leadership (and SEMC Executive Director, Zinnia Willits) at NCMC2026 in Greenville, North Carolina.

(L-R) Virginia Howell, Katie Ericson-Baskin, Zinnia Willits, Matt Davis, and Christa McCay at the 2026 Georgia Association of Museums Annual Meeting in Marietta, Georgia.

Zinnia Willits with Casey Jenkins, Executive Director of the Virginia Association of Museums, at VAM2026 in Williamsburg, Virginia.

The Southeastern Art Museum Directors at SEAMD2026, visiting Hampton University Art Museum in Hampton, Virginia.

Dear SEMC,

One more thing before you go....

I had a lovely full-circle moment a few weekends ago, celebrating my predecessor, former SEMC Executive Director, Susan Perry, and her beautiful art exhibition at the Pickens County Museum of Art & History (in the upstate of South Carolina ) on view through July 4, 2026. Spending time with Susan, a mentor who inspired me to embrace this role with SEMC, was so wonderful for the camaraderie and shared connection!

Also, attending her opening reminded me how important small museums are to the myriad of small towns across our region, the communities and histories they represent, and the future of this field! Stop in, support if you can, amplify their efforts. I am proud to be present whenever and wherever I can!

SEMC: Then, Now, Next!

Have a great week!

Zinnia Willits

SEMC Executive Director