As 2021 comes to a close, the Museum Education Roundtable is ready to head into the new year during a moment of change for the organization. Our long-time Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Museum Education (JME), Cynthia Robinson has announced her retirement from her role. Through her decade-long tenure with the JME, Cynthia has supported the journal’s evolution, overseeing 39 issues of the journal. We celebrate her contributions through a special virtual collection in partnership with our publisher, Taylor & Francis. This collection highlights some of Cynthia’s important work and will be made available online from December 17th.

With Cynthia’s departure, we welcome Michelle Moon and Nathaniel Prottas as the journal’s new Co-Editors. As part of our ongoing work on investigating our practices, we have implemented this co-editorial model which we hope will continue to support the manner in which MER centers shared leadership. The editors would be excited to hear from new authors and proposals for guest-edited issues, you can reach them at: [email protected] 

In 2022, MER will also engage in an internal and operationally focused strategic planning process to reflect and continue our work in supporting the museum education field. I am excited to serve as President to MER’s Board of Directors during this exciting time. Alongside me are newly appointed officers, Co-Vice President Wendy Ng, Co-Vice President Michelle Dezember, as well as elected officers Co-Treasurers Adrienne Lei, Abbie Diaz (on leave) with Becca Ljungren (interim), and Secretary Lynn Baum. We are also supported by our new Membership & Marketing Manager, Aubrey Beam and the rest of the inspiring individuals who serve on our organization’s Board of Directors.

I look forward to hearing insights from our partners and our membership, as well as from folks who may be interested in serving on our Board of Directors. Please contact me at [email protected]. I also encourage others to join MER through our membership program: https://www.museumedu.org/join/memberships/

On behalf of MER’s Board of Directors, thank you for your ongoing support of our organization and the Journal of Museum Education.

Warmly,
Naomi Ostwald Kawamura

 

Naomi Ostwald Kawamura currently serves as the President of the Museum Education Roundtable. She provides leadership to the Nikkei Place Foundation as its Executive Director. She also is a PhD Candidate at the University of British Columbia. Her doctoral research focuses on the role of museums in collective memory and collective identity practices.