Program Overview

The Jekyll Island Management Institute (JIMI) is an immersive experience for museum professionals who seek to broaden their understanding of museum operations in order to advance to management or leadership roles in the museum field. 

During the 8-day Institute, participants will learn current best practices of visitor-facing and behind-the-scenes work in museums with a focus on incorporating diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion, and the use of technology into all subjects. JIMI attendees will have the opportunity to hear from current experts across the museum field and work collaboratively with peers to discuss challenges and solutions to real world museum issues. 

All sessions will be held at Villa Ospo in the Jekyll Island Historic District

The Institute will be structured as a tour of the museum. Sessions will use case studies to allow students to identify and discuss best practices in a range of visitor-facing and behind-the-scenes roles in a museum. Rather than taking a deep dive into any particular role, participants will receive an overview and come away with a better understanding of how the roles in a museum work together to form an institution. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from current experts in the field and from each other during sessions covering participant’s areas of expertise.

Target Learning Objectives

Through a series of practical application exercises, students will become familiar with current best practices in visitor facing and behind-the-scenes museum work while developing a network of museum professionals.

          

JIMI 2025 attendees will have opportunities to experience and learn from the rich historic resources, sites and tours on Jekyll Island

Thank you to the 2025 Jekyll Island Management Institute Sponsors

This program is supported in part by Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. Georgia Council for the Arts also receives support from its partner agency - the National Endowment for the Arts.

Thank you to the 2025 Jekyll Island Management Institute Supporters

Dr. David Butler 

Arkansas Museums Association

Mississippi Museums Association

North Carolina Museums Council

South Carolina Federation of Museums

Meet the JIMI2025 Instructors!

JIMI Instructors provide subject area expertise and practical approaches to administrative challenges. 2025 session descriptions coming soon!

Adam Alfrey Assistant Director for Historical Services East Tennessee History Center JIMI 2025 Subject:  Facilities/Disaster Preparedness	Kristopher Allen   Senior Manager of School & Volunteer Programs   Michael C. Carlos Museum   JIMI 2025 Subject:   Visitor Services	Amy Bartow-Melia   Executive Director   South Carolina State Museum   JIMI 2025 Subjects:     Accreditation   Strategic Planning
Marcy Breffle Consultant Purpose Possible JIMI 2025 Subject:  Grants	Rebecca Bush   Curator of History & Exhibitions Manager   The Columbus Museum   JIMI 2025 Subject:    Curation	Dr. Nancy Strickland Chavis   Director and Curator   Museum of the Southeast American  Indian   JIMI 2025 Subject:    Working With Cultural Communities
Chris Cook Director of Education    Louisiana State Museum JIMI 2025 Subject: Education	Stefanie Green    Interim Operations Officer   Kennesaw State University   Museums, Archives, Rare  Books, & Libraries   JIMI 2025 Subjects:   Budgeting   Human Resources	Erica Hague   Collections Manager   Atlanta History Center   JIMI 2025 Subjects:    Collections Management   Registration
Shawn Halifax Museums & Historic Sites Consultant Fairfax County Park Authority JIMI 2025 Subject: Overview of the Changing Museum Field	Virginia Howell   Director   Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking   JIMI 2025 Subject   Public Programs	Felicia Ingram   Head of Interpretation   North Carolina Museum of Art   JIMI 2025 Subject:   Accessibility
Kevin Kane Software Developer North Carolina Museum of Art JIMI 2025 Subject:   General Technology	Dr. Ellen Lofaro   Director of Repatriation   University of Tennessee, Knoxville   JIMI 2025 Subject:   Working With Cultural Communities	David Paule   Principal & Managing Director   Our Fundraising Search   JIMI 2025 Subjects:    Fundraising/Individual Giving   Membership
Damon Reaves Head of Learning & Engagement National Gallery of Art JIMI 2025 Subject: Community Engagement	Ashley Rogers   Executive Director   Whitney Plantation   JIMI 2025 Subject:   Interpretation	Cierra Selby   Digital Marketing Consultant   JIMI 2025 Subject:   Digital Marketing
Melissa Tran Director of Learning Heinz History Center JIMI 2025 Subject: Education	Ahmad Ward   Executive Director   Historic Mitchellville Freedom Park   JIMI 2025 Subjects:   Board Management   Leadership	Julie Waters   Manager of Exhibit Planning   Florida Museum of Natural History   JIMI 2025 Subject:    Exhibition Development
Zinnia Willits Executive Director  Southeastern Museums Conference JIMI 2025 Facilitator

Who should consider attending JIMI?

The Jekyll Island Management Institute is designed for emerging and mid-career museum professionals interested in filling knowledge gaps in subjects related to museum operations required for management level and leadership positions. It is preferred (but not required) that applicants have at least two years full-time museum experience.

Application/Selection Process

The JIMI2025 cohort will include up to 20 individuals selected via an application process. All applications will be reviewed by the JIMI2025 Selection Committee comprised of SEMC Council members and JIMI alums.

*JIMI2025 Schedule

*Subject to minor changes.

JIMI2025 Tuition

Tuition for the 8-day program is $1000 for SEMC members or members of another museum professional organization ($1100 for all others) and includes instruction and Institute resources. Some meals will be provided.

JIMI2025 Lodging/On-Island Transportation

Lodging at the oceanfront host hotel, the Hampton Inn & Suites, Jekyll Island, is available at the SEMC group rate of $159 +tax per night (depending on room type) and will be responsibility of each JIMI attendee. Large double rooms and suites are available to share. A daily full breakfast buffet (6:00AM-10:00AM) is included. A shuttle will be available to transport JIMI attendees between the Hampton Inn (south side of the Island) and Villa Ospo (session location in the Historic District - a five minute drive).

Hampton Inn and Suites, Jekyll Island, GA

All JIMI 2025 sessions will be held in the Jekyll Island Historic District 

Peter S. LaPaglia Scholarship 

Thanks to years of ongoing generosity of many friends and colleagues of the late Peter S. LaPaglia, co-founder of the Jekyll Island Management Institute, the Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) is pleased to offer two scholarships to cover 2025 program tuition. Click the link below to learn more and apply for a 2025 LaPaglia Scholarship. 

Learn More and Apply for a LaPaglia Scholarship

Additional JIMI Scholarships

Check with your state museum association as many offer additional scholarships to cover the cost of JIMI tuition. 

Confirmed State Associations Offering JIMI2025 Tuition Scholarships:

• Arkansas Museums Association offers a full tuition scholarship for one JIMI attendee from Arkansas. Visit the website for more information. 
• North Carolina Museums Council offers a full tuition scholarship for one JIMI attendee from North Carolina. Visit the website for more information. 

• Mississippi Museums Association offers a full tuition scholarship for one JIMI attendee from Mississippi who is also either an individual member or who's intuition is a member of MMA. Recipient will be asked to speak at MMA's annual meeting in 2025. 
• South Carolina Federation of Museums offers a full tuition scholarship for one JIMI attendee from South Carolina. Visit the website for more information. 

JIMI Sponsorship Opportunities

Consider supporting SEMC's successful Jekyll Island Management Institute (JIMI). This successful program has attracted applicants from all over the United States and its alumni have assumed key leadership positions in leading museums and organizations. Please contact Zinnia Willits for sponsorship information/opportunities at zwillits@semcdirect.net

SUPPORT THE PETER LAPAGLIA JIMI SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND