Baylor Museum Studies Begins Student Organization

The Department of Museum Studies at Baylor University has chartered the Museum Studies Student Association (MSSA), the first professional museum studies student organization on the Baylor campus. The organization facilitates communication between the students in the department, university, and regional museum community.
The first officers elected for the association are Amanda McNamara as president, Allison Tarter as vice president, Page Duff as secretary and Sheryl Moore as treasurer. McNamara said the association will help prepare students for careers in the museums studies field which is growing rapidly.
"Museums are now requiring degrees instead of volunteer experience," McNamara said. "We are trying to help students in their professional development."
Faculty advisers for the group are Stephen Williams, assistant professor of museum studies and collections manager of the Strecker Museum Complex, and Debra Reid, lecturer in museum studies and curator of the Gov. Bill and Vara Daniel Historic Village.
The group has begun meeting this fall and is building more enthusiasm within the Department of Museum Studies, said Williams.
"It is an exciting time for the students in museum studies because they have never had this opportunity before," Williams said. "The full potential for the group has not been realized."
The group is charted locally and hopes to pursue a national charter in two years, according to Calvin Smith, chair of the museum studies and director of the Strecker Museum Complex.
For more information, contact Smith or Williams at 755-1110.