My WMA experience was, in short, transformative. I prepared for my first museum conference feeling shy, nervous, and not sure of what I was getting myself into. My flight was delayed and I arrived at the resort--with minutes to spare--just in time for Speed Networking. I didn’t have time to be nervous, so I jumped right in! By pushing myself to make conversation and come out of my shell, I found my footing faster than I would have otherwise. I was easily able to start making connections, gather business cards, and recognize faces around the venue.
I knew as a Scholarship recipient that I wanted to make the most of my experience. Receiving the Wanda Chin Scholarship made me determined to use my time wisely and integrate myself into the programming. I also wanted to make sure I was attending sessions that were most relevant to my career goals in collections management. Although I am still outside the industry looking in, I now feel a part of the collections community in a way I hadn’t before the conference. I came away from the experience with new knowledge and perspectives I hadn’t considered before. There were times when I felt a bit overwhelmed by it all–back to back sessions, imposter syndrome, and the demands of my full-time job--but I was lucky enough to book a room on-site and take some time to decompress alone. Had I not received the Wanda Chin scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to both fund my travel expenses and reserve a hotel room at the conference venue. The scholarship truly helped me find balance between immersing myself completely in the conference and knowing when to take time for myself.
In all, I attended 6 sessions, 3 mixers, and one off-site excursion. I was fortunate that there were multiple sessions surrounding collections management with an emphasis on repatriation and NAGPRA. I hope to enter the field of Native and Indigenous advocacy in museums, specifically in a Natural History environment. There were two impactful sessions concerning the updates to NAGPRA that increased my knowledge of the state of the industry and the differing opinions on this topic. I also attend technical presentations on the minutia of collections care, specifically related to shipping artifacts and developing collections policy. Lastly, I attended a presentation co-hosted by my colleague Ariel Weintraub, and it was so exciting to see her extend her knowledge to an audience of new faces! Working alongside Ariel has been very impactful for me and I deeply appreciate her guidance and companionship throughout the conference. Thanks to the presence of other OMCA staff – Johanna Jones, Leslie Dueñas, Larissa Mellor, Alicia Goode, and Violetta Wolfe –I felt more grounded and confident during the course of the conference.
One of the biggest standouts of my WMA experience was visiting The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures. I was flabbergasted, enchanted, and moved by the incredible detail and thought put into these miniature assemblages! I’m a sucker for tiny things, and I may have lost my cool a bit exploring the galleries. A fellow scholarship recipient and I noted how nice it was to visit a museum with such a whimsical, casual, and fun energy after working to develop our careers and engage in tough conversations at the conference. Watching museum directors, CEOs and industry changemakers doing karaoke to Chappel Roan has to be a once in a lifetime experience.
I’m deeply appreciative to WMA for including me in the stellar group of Wanda Chin Scholarship recipients. This gift did more for me that I ever could have expected before I touched down (behind schedule) in Tucson. This experience was affirming to my career and I feel like I have found my footing as a well-rounded museum person. I even won an auction item – shout out to the Dwarf Car Museum! I couldn’t have asked for better memories, connections, and friends from my 3-night-stay with WMA. Let’s do it again next year?
Dahlia Theriault is an emerging museum professional based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dahlia achieved her B.A. in Art & Art History from Occidental College and is currently pursuing her Museum Studies M.A. at San Francisco State University. She is currently the Membership & Annual Fund Associate at the Oakland Museum of California. Dahlia’s professional interests are in collections management with an emphasis in Native and Indigenous repatriation practices.
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