Washington, DC, 4/30/2007 -

The American Association of Museums (AAM) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2007 Excellence in Peer Review Service Awards.  This award honors individuals who have shown outstanding professional dedication and service as volunteers for the Museum Assessment and Accreditation Programs. Awards will be presented Monday, May 14 at the 2007 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo™ in Chicago.

 

AAM peer review is based on the idea that professionals who develop and follow standards of excellence in their own work are best suited to evaluate the work of their colleagues. AAM's peer review program embodies this principle by matching qualified professionals with museums participating in the Accreditation or Museum Assessment Programs.

 

Peer reviewers support AAM programs by reviewing self assessment materials, conducting site visits, and writing reports for museums, on an entirely volunteer basis. In order to serve as a peer reviewer, museum professionals must be experienced in and knowledgeable about museum operations and standards, aware of emerging field-wide issues, and demonstrate a willingness to share their expertise to advance the profession.

 

This year’s Excellence in Peer Review Service Award recipients are:

 

·         Phil Kwiatkowski, Director, Michigan Historical Museum System, Lansing, Mich.

·         Bill Galvani, Director, Naval Undersea Museum, Bainbridge Island, Wash.

·         Ed Schneider, President/CEO, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, Calif.

·         Jeanette Toohey, Chief Curator, Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Jacksonville, Fla.

·         Marti Allen, Director, Arkansas State University Museum, State University, Ark.

·         Don Zuris, Head Curator, Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, Corpus Christi, Tex.

 

“Being a peer reviewer provides rich opportunities to grow, learn, and give back to the community,” said Kim Igoe, Interim President & CEO of AAM. “These recipients have shown tremendous leadership to the field and service to the public. We greatly appreciate their commitment to strengthening museums across the country.”

 

Since 1971, the AAM Museum Assessment Program and Accreditation Program have assisted museums in achieving excellence in their operations and service to communities.  Both programs depend on over 1000 volunteer peer reviewers for their success.

 

More information about the peer review program, including past award recipients and details about the award criteria, can be found at www.aam-us.org/getinvolved/pr.    

 

About AAM

The American Association of Museums (AAM) has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. With more than 15,000 individual, 3,000 institutional, and 300 corporate members, AAM is dedicated to ensuring that museums remain a vital part of the American landscape, connecting people with the greatest achievements of the human experience, past, present and future. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.   

 

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