Inaugural American Alliance of Museums and Michigan State University program brings museum executives to Detroit Oct. 5–9, including leaders from six Michigan museums.

DETROIT, MI — Next week, 40 museum CEOs and senior executives from across North America will convene in Detroit for the inaugural Museum Leadership Academy, a new executive program from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and Michigan State University (MSU) designed to prepare museum leaders to navigate a period of significant change for the field.

Taking place October 5–9 at the Michigan State University Detroit Center, the Academy responds to the increasingly complex demands facing museum leaders, from evolving financial models and workforce dynamics to rapidly changing technology, audience expectations, and increased political pressure.

“The expectations placed on museum leaders have significantly evolved and intensified over the past several years,” said Marilyn Jackson, President and CEO of the American Alliance of Museums. “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.”

WHAT

The inaugural Museum Leadership Academy, an intensive executive leadership program bringing together 40 museum CEOs and senior leaders for seven learning modules over four and a half days.

The Academy combines academic research with practical leadership experience and expertise from both inside and outside the museum field. Topics include leading through change, financial sustainability, workforce strategy, innovation, strategic foresight, and experience design.

MICHIGAN PARTICIPANTS

Six members of the inaugural national cohort lead museums here in Michigan:

• Christian Greer, President and CEO, Michigan Science Center
• Christopher Bruce-Karel, Executive Deputy Director, Grand Rapids Art Museum
• Craig Hadley, Executive Director and Chief Curator, Dennos Museum Center
• Lucy Hale, The Susan Flint Cooper Director, Cranbrook Institute of Science
• Michelle Stempien, Executive Director, Holland Museum
• Tracee Glab, Executive Director, Flint Institute of Arts

The cohort was selected through a competitive application process and represents museums of different sizes, disciplines, and regions across the country.

WHEN & WHERE

October 5–9, 2026
Michigan State University Detroit Center
Detroit, Michigan

The Detroit-based program will also connect participants with the city’s museum and cultural community.

NATIONAL FACULTY

Academy faculty bring perspectives from museums, business, design, organizational leadership, and futures studies and include:

• Joseph Pine, co-author of The Experience Economy
• Brian Kennedy, former director of the National Gallery of Australia and Toledo Museum of Art
• Rachel Young, Partner and Director of Research at IDEO
• Andy Hines, futurist and Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for the University of Houston’s Graduate Program in Foresight

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

While the Academy itself is not open to media, interviews can be arranged before, during, or following the program with AAM leadership.

AAM can also provide photos from the Academy in Detroit for publication, as well as additional background information about the program and inaugural cohort.

Press Contact:
Natanya Khashan
American Alliance of Museums
media@aam-us.org

About the American Alliance of Museums

The American Alliance of Museums is the only organization representing the entire museum field, from art and history museums to science centers and zoos. Since 1906, AAM has championed museums through advocacy and provided museum professionals with the resources, knowledge, inspiration, and connections they need to move the field forward.