2022 Wanda Chin Scholarship Recipients
Wanda Chin Professional Development Program
Since 1997, the Wanda Chin Professional Development Program helps to make attendance at the Western Museums Association’s (WMA) Annual Meeting financially accessible to individuals who might otherwise not be able to attend. Funded through annual auctions and donations, the Wanda Chin Professional Development Program is a vital component of the WMA mission, and allows WMA to create opportunities for its constituents to build skill-sets to better serve their communities.
Read about the experiences of WMA's 2022 recipients below!
Please stay tuned for details about WMA 2023 applications
Donate to the Wanda Chin Scholarship Fund
Providing scholarships is a vital component of the WMA’s mission—and we need your help! By making a donation to the Wanda Chin Scholarship Fund, you will help to subsidize participation in WMA's Annual Meeting for professionals who might not otherwise be able to attend. The Annual Meeting is an opportunity for everyone to network will colleauges, learn best practices, and gain new skillsets that can be applied within their own institutions and local communities.
There are two ways to donate and make an impact:
- Donate to the Wanda Chin Scholarship Fund by clicking here. Choose the amount you wish to donate and specify that your donation is for the 'Wanda Chin Scholarship' in the comments section
- Support the Wanda Chin Scholarship Program by bidding on items in the Annual Meeting's Silent and Live Auction event. Proceeds from the Silent and Live Auction directly fund this program
Eligibility Requirements
Any current WMA member is elligible for the Wanda Chin Scholarship. This includes full-time or part-time employees, board members, volunteers, students, and interns. Past scholarship applicants are invited to apply, but previous scholarship winners are not eligible. We encourage applications from members of diverse communities and subscribe to EEO/Affirmative Action principles.
In order to apply, applicants must meet one of the following criteria:
- Student – Must be a current WMA Member and enrolled in a degree granting program
- Emerging Professional – Must be a current WMA Member and have been in the museum field for 1-10 years
- Mid-career Professional – Must be a current WMA Member and have been in the museum field for 10-20 years
This is a competitive process and awards are based primarily on financial need. Scholarships are not intended to pay the full cost of the Annual Meeting attendance and are generally granted in partial amounts in order to assist as many qualified applicants as possible. It is expected that the recipient or their institution will share in some of the cost.
How to Apply
- Read through the eligibility requirements (see above)
- Download and fill out the Application Form (link coming soon)
- Submit the appliaction to proposals@westmuse.org
Applicants will receive a confirmation upon receipt of the application, and will be notified of the final award results. The WMA Board will determine the winners of the scholarships and notify them prior to the conference.
Applications are no longer being accepted for WMA 2022. Please check back soon for details about WMA 2023.
See what previous Wanda Chin Scholarship recipients are saying...
"I left Boise warm with validation. Even if we sometimes lose sight of the positive effect of our labor when we’re sneezing in over-full collections rooms and dealing with difficult visitors for too-little pay, it’s reassuring to be reminded that the hard work we do is important and impactful. While I certainly gained other valuable educational and professional experiences thanks to the Wanda Chin scholarship, I was most grateful to attend the WMA conference as a chance to touch base with other members of a larger community—a community of constructive and considerate people who are walking the talk."
"I am truly grateful for the chance I had to attend WMA this year, not just for what I take away, but for what I bring home. The connections made, the sessions attended, and the ideas we shared all become pieces of a larger circuit when we go our separate ways, spread out each to our own communities, and use the influence we’ve had on each other to inspire."
WestMuse Blog Posts by Wanda Chin Award Recipients
Every year, Wanda Chin Award recipients write a post for the WestMuse Blog about their experience as a scholarship recipient. We invite you to read through some of the past blog posts below.
