Announcing NEMA’s 2018 Excellence Award Winners
NEMA is pleased to announce the winners of the fifth annual Excellence Awards competition. We had the largest pool of nominees ever, which made for a highly competitive year. This year's awardees will receive recognition at the Annual Meeting at this year's conference. Thanks to all who submitted nominations and to our judges, and congratulations to this year's Excellence Award winners!
Jan Crocker, senior exhibit & content developer at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, receives an Excellence Award for her extraordinary work in visitor-centered design, innovative museum experiences, and mentorship in the field. In addition to her creative projects at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute and the Museum of Science, where she previously worked, Jan has also led the Exhibits Professional Affinity Group for NEMA, started the South of Boston chapter of Drinking About Museums, and leads professional development workshops, all with a focus on building community and empowerment.
Her nominator says "Jan has the ability to connect with every person she meets and holds a sincere interest in learning people’s stories, including visitors and community members. An advocate for community involvement, she ensures that inclusion is a priority in every project. She always considers the perspectives of others and creates an environment where other voices and narratives can be heard and centered.”
Ramin Ganeshram, executive director of the Westport Historical Society (WHS), wins an Excellence Award for curating Remembered: The History of African Americans, a groundbreaking exhibit that rectifies misperceptions about those who founded and built Westport and towns like it throughout New England. Westport Public Schools incorporated the exhibit into their eight and tenth grade curricula for the 2018-19 school year. Additionally, Ganeshram has led a comprehensive effort to make WHS an inclusive community hub and initiated the memorialization of the enslaved people of Wesport in the town’s brick walk.
Her nominator says, “Ms. Ganeshram has created welcoming public spaces, free public Wi-Fi and outdoor activities for adults and children. The goal is to make WHS a place where people of diverse backgrounds and means can come together on equal footing. Additionally, as part of the ongoing work around Remembered Ms. Ganeshram is building lasting bridges to diversity in the Westport community."
Neil Gordon, CEO of the Discovery Museum, wins an Excellence Award for deftly steering the museum through a period of tremendous growth and change over the past nine years. Gordon guided the Discovery Museum through its first capital campaign in nearly thirty years to fund the major renovation and expansion of the museum, which resulted in heightened physical and financial accessibility to all members of the community and the opening of the award-winning Discovery Woods, a nature playscape and accessible treehouse. He is also past chairman of the board of the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), a past board member of NEMA, and a current board member of the Massachusetts Institute for the Teaching of Science (MITS).
His nominator says, “In line with Gordon’s goal of getting “every kid, every day, outside to play,” Discovery Woods offers new opportunities for visitors of all abilities to explore outdoors. When, thanks to Gordon’s perseverance, the museum’s vision for a modern, expanded campus finally became a reality, it became a reality for all children. Now, with visitation growing by leaps and bounds, Gordon is still looking forward, envisioning new ways to spark children’s imaginations and equip them with the tools they’ll need for a lifetime of learning.”
Robert Kiihne, director of exhibits at the USS Constitution Museum, receives an Excellence Award for creating a truly immersive experience with Forest to Frigate, a complementary exhibit to USS Constitution’s recent restoration. In addition to his constant innovation and dedication to the visitor’s “a-ha” moments over the past twenty years, Kiihne is integral to the museum’s work with the National Parks of Boston and USS Constitution in planning for a unified Charlestown Navy Yard that will spark excitement about the story of “Old Ironsides,” maritime heritage, naval service, and American history.
His nominator says, “Through engaging, STEM-integrated displays and rare artifacts Robert brought to life those who dreamed, designed, and built USS Constitution, providing visitors with insight to why she was built and how her superior design and sturdy construction made her the most fabled ship in American history. .. Somewhat of a mad scientist, Robert’s creativity, genius, and, above all, dedication to the visitor experience is worthy of resounding applause.”
Jeri Robinson, vice president of early learning initiatives at the Boston Children’s Museum, receives an Excellence Award for her extraordinary work in early childhood education in a museum setting. Over her 45 year career, Robison developed the PlaySpace exhibit (one of the earliest prototypes for early learning family spaces in children’s and other museums), founded the Boston Cultural Collaborative for Early Learning, and co-founded Families First Parenting and “Count Down to Kindergarten, among many other successes.
Her nominator says, “Jeri was instrumental in securing the Commonwealth’s Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge plan. This initiative equipped local museums and libraries across the state with programming, curricula and other tools to increase the number of high quality and enriching experiences available to our youngest citizens.”