This year has been one of transformation and growth, both in my career and personal life making the WMA 2025 theme “Elevate” very timely. As a second-time attendee, I had an idea of what to expect and what I wanted to learn from my time at the conference. From making connections at the airport minutes after landing in Reno and running to join Speed Networking, to enjoying meals, sessions, and events with others, my time was spent elevating my knowledge and connections.
Receiving the Wanda Chin Scholarship allowed me to focus on planning my sessions and time and the conference and not stress how I would pay for travel or the conference fees. The scholarship also provided the ability to book a room at the conference hotel and being close to the sessions and events, gave me the opportunity to spend more time meeting people and experiencing everything the conference had to offer. I pre-planned my schedule, jotting down every session I would attend, ensuring I covered a variety of topics to take back to my department and institution.
First on the agenda: the Opening General Session. During this session to kick off the conference, WMA Board President Noelle Kahanu, discussed the role of museums in today’s society, describing them as a “Pewa” or butterfly patch. As museums we acknowledge the cracks in society and act as a patch to hold two dividing sides together, as a butterfly patch holds two separating pieces of wall together. This type of patch does not cover or hide the crack instead makes it beautiful. “Hewa” meaning wrongness or bad. Noelle ended her speech with this saying “Be the Pewa, not the Hewa.” This speech was very moving and really hit home with me. As museum workers working behind on things the public may never see, sometimes it is easy to forget how powerful and needed our work is for our communities.
In all, I attended 8 sessions, 4 networking events, and 1 roundtable discussion. For the sessions, I chose ones that focused on collections and exhibits, as these two areas are both what my institution is working on and my area of expertise. I brought back so much information that will assist my institution as we prepare of accreditation and the renovation of collections storage spaces and exhibits. In addition to sessions, the networking events were wonderful for not only meeting new people, but also for seeing what other museums are doing for exhibits, in a fun and relaxed environment.
In addition to being a Wanda Chin Scholar, I also had the opportunity to have my very first conference presentation at WMA. I was very nervous for my session. However, by the time it came to present, I felt as if those present were more family than stranger, and my nerves subsided. Through the opportunities provided at WMA and the Wanda Chin Scholarship, I have increased confidence and knowledge in my skills and my career path.
Sara Mercado is an emerging museum professional based in Southern California. Sara received her B.A. in Anthropology from Cal Poly Pomona and her M.A. in Historical Administration from Eastern Illinois University. She is currently the Registrar at the San Bernardino County Museum. When not in the museum, she enjoys spending time outdoors with family, friends, and two dogs.
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