2024 Wanda Chin Scholarship Recipients
Wanda Chin Professional Development Program
Since 1997, the Wanda Chin Professional Development Program has helped 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.
Eligibility Requirements • How to Apply • Donate •
Read About the Experience of WMA's 2023 Recipients
WMA 2025 Scholarship applications OPEN March 31st
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.
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
Please note: 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
WMA 2025 Scholarship applications OPEN March 31st and CLOSE May 30th
- Read through the eligibility requirements (see above)
- Download and fill out the application form
- Submit the application to proposals@westmuse.org
Applicants will receive a confirmation upon receipt of the application and will be notified of the final award results no later than Friday, June 28, 2024. The WMA Board will determine the winners of the scholarships and notify them prior to the conference.
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 incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have attended the WMA annual meeting through the support of the Wanda Chin Scholarship. The generous information and tools shared throughout the conference sent me home energized and encouraged to walk with care down the uneasy path. I’m sure missteps will happen along the way, but it’s absolutely worth the hike."
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.
- WMA 2023 Annual Conference: The Perfect Place to Make New CONNECTions - Aubrey Feyrer
- What Does it Mean to Connect? - June Pen
- CONNECTing in a Time of Newness and Uncertainty: An Emerging Museum Professional's Survival Guide to Your First Conference - Makenzie Stewart
- Creative Connections and Rhizmes - Dave Laubenthal
- Navigating the Unfamiliar Museum Landscape - Jessica Conn
- Reflections from the WMA in Pasadena, CA - Elayne Hinsch
WMA 2024 Scholarship applications are now closed.
