Student view: More than a job — What the MSU Museum taught me
Samuel Booth is a CoLaborator at the Michigan State University Museum and a third-year student studying documentary filmmaking and museum studies. The CoLaborator program empowers graduate and undergraduate students to shape the museum’s exhibitions and facilitate visitor engagement.
When I was a freshman, I remember wanting a job that felt like a natural match for how much I enjoy talking with people and exploring all kinds of ideas. I was lucky enough to find exactly that at the MSU Museum. It is a place that has always taken pride in staying relevant to what is happening in the world while also bringing art and science together in ways that encourage people to explore the overlap between them.
The museum has been part of my life for longer than I have been a student here. My mom used to take me when I was little and, since we lived in East Lansing, it became one of our go-to weekend activities. Now that I have been working here for almost three years, it’s funny to look back at those early visits. What I loved about the museum as a child is still what I appreciate today. It is a space where so many different subjects come together, where the humanities and STEM work in harmony to communicate a message.
During my time working here, I have learned about things I never expected to study in-depth. In just a few years, we have hosted exhibitions on food sustainability and security, Detroit’s techno music scene, the origins of the universe and many more topics. Every exhibition feels completely different from the last, and each one teaches me something that sticks with me.
After working my first exhibition for a semester, the museum began preparing for the major renovations that have been underway. Once that process started, the museum opened a temporary pop-up location with the help of the MSU Federal Credit Union. That pop-up is where I have been working for over a year now. While there, I’ve continued to work with guests and facilitate fascinating exhibitions. I have definitely missed the old building and all its character, but the renovations feel exciting because they give us the chance to launch a new exhibition at the same time. This new chapter will allow for fresh interactive experiences, updated exhibitions and more room for creative programming.
One of the parts of my job that I enjoy the most is talking with visitors. Every person brings their own angle to whatever exhibit they are looking at. Sometimes they know more about a topic than I do, and those are the moments I pay close attention because I end up learning alongside them. One memory that always comes back to me is from an exhibition called Food Fight, which highlighted the role of food in everything from sustainability to cultural identity. A section of the exhibit included a vermiculture compost setup. I was explaining it to a guest when he mentioned he had done a TED Talk on vermiculture. From there, he ended up teaching me all kinds of things I had not encountered before. These are the interactions that I remember and enjoy the most.
I also have had the chance to work on different side projects. Some involved researching other museums and suggesting ideas for things we could improve here. Others let me apply what I learn in my filmmaking program by helping film and edit promotional content for the museum. I also assist with the museum’s various public programs and events, like the annual Ignite Talks event, which brings students together to share their research in a way that is accessible to the public. Those events always make the museum feel lively and connected to the broader community. This kind of work is full of things I know I’ll remember and carry with me as my college career comes to an end.
I have never felt more welcomed or supported in a workplace, and I think that is simply a testament to the kind of environment the MSU Museum has. Everyone here cares about creativity, curiosity and collaboration — and that has shaped how I see my own role within the museum world. With the renovated space set to open soon, I am genuinely excited to see what comes next and to welcome people back into a space that has meant so much to me for so long.