Detroit became the backdrop for the learning and professional development of some of the museum industry’s most esteemed leaders thanks to a partnership between the American Alliance of Museums, or AAM, and Michigan State University.
Newly launched this year, the Museum Leadership Academy is an executive program designed to equip museum CEOs and those in senior roles to lead with clarity, confidence and impact. With support from E.A. Michelson Philanthropy, the program welcomed an inaugural cohort of 40 leaders from the U.S. and Canada after a competitive application process.
At a moment of profound change across the cultural sector, museum leadership is both more complex and consequential than ever. Institutions are navigating evolving financial models, shifting workforce dynamics and increased pressure around the content they present. The academy was created in response to the increasing complexity facing museum leaders today and the need for leadership development tailored specifically to the museum sector.
“The expectations placed on museum leaders have significantly evolved and intensified over the past several years,” said Marilyn Jackson, AAM president and CEO. “Today’s leaders are navigating complexity across every part of their institutions while also shaping how museums serve their communities in a changing world. The Museum Leadership Academy was created to support leaders in meeting that moment.”
From Oct. 5–9, the cohort of leaders engaged in immersive learning focused on adaptive leadership, financial strategies, innovative experience design and more. The academy also provided an opportunity to experience Detroit as it continues to flourish in a state of cultural renaissance, including dinner receptions hosted by the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Historical Museum.
The partnership with a leading global research university on this program, and one that would bring the inaugural cohort to Detroit, was intentional.
“As a land-grant university, MSU is committed to putting knowledge to work for the public good,” stated Devon Akmon, director of the MSU Museum and current AAM Chair of the Board. “Our partnership with AAM reflects that commitment by investing in the leaders who will shape the future of museums and the communities they serve. Hosting the inaugural cohort in Detroit, home to some of the nation’s most remarkable cultural institutions, made that investment even more meaningful.”
The Museum Leadership Academy combined academic research with practical leadership experience through nationally recognized faculty and museum practitioners. All were selected for the valuable insight they could provide to the toughest challenges facing museum leadership today and brought a broad range of perspectives and experiences.
The roster included J. Kevin Ford, professor in the organizational psychology program and chair of the Department of Psychology at MSU, who guided participants through a session about balancing bold vision with industry realism. During the session, he provided participants with practical tools to navigate transformational change through vision, planning, implementation and continuous evaluation — ensuring that learning translates into sustained performance.
The cohort itself also represented the broad range of subjects and audiences covered by the museum field, from museums of history and art to museums for families and children.
“I learned so much from our facilitators and even more from my peers,” said program participant Nick Vann, executive director of the Washington State Historical Society. “I learned how to bring more creativity from art museum directors. I learned more about joy from children’s museum directors. I learned more about education and innovation from science center directors. I learned more about truth telling from history museum directors. And I learned about transformative culture changes from everyone.”
The academy program illustrated the importance of treating leadership in any field as a lifelong learning journey.
“Leadership is not a destination,” Akmon said. “It is a practice that must evolve as the world rapidly changes around us. The leaders in this cohort have already accomplished so much, yet they came ready to learn from instructors and from one another. MSU is proud to help prepare museum leaders to navigate change and shape the future of their institutions and the communities they serve.”
Learn more about the Museum Leadership Academy at aam-us.org.
