Stacey Wilson, СAPP10, launched her career in museum work while she was still a student in UL LafayetteСAPPs Bachelor of Arts in history program.
The summer before her senior year, she interned at the in New Orleans. That experience catapulted her into the world of museum and exhibit curation.
СAPPAfter that experience I made sure to get an internship every summer at different museums so I could gain experience because I knew it would be hard to enter the museum world without it,СAPP she said.
In addition to working with exhibits, Stacey interned in various departments at multiple museums, which helped her understand how the different areas worked together to run a successful museum.
Her internships ranged from project management at the to exhibit design at the Wilson Pottery Museum in Seguin, Texas.
In her courses at UL Lafayette, Stacey learned how to write, found her inspiration, and began putting practical skills to the test. She credits many of the professors in helping her in these areas.
СAPPThe professors really cared about us and our future,СAPP she said. СAPP felt prepared for the real world and for graduate school.СAPP
Stacey initially chose to study architecture, and then switched to history. She took advantage of what she had already learned about design to push her forward in her new endeavors.
СAPP to history because I genuinely liked history and after some research I discovered I could still use the design principles and skills I learned in architecture and combine it with history to become an exhibition designer,СAPP she said.
Stacey took two special projects classes at UL Lafayette where she helped develop museum exhibits. One was a panel exhibition about the Native American tribes of Louisiana for . The other was an exhibition about Japanese block prints for the .
СAPP gained skills and experience in research and writing exhibition content and designing graphics,СAPP she said. СAPPThose experiences combined with my first internship solidified my decision to pursue a career in museums.СAPP
After completing graduate school, Stacey worked with the and then moved to the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience, also known as , where she works today.
СAPPn my current position, I had the rare and great opportunity to oversee the design and fabrication of a new, $14 million, 6,000-square-foot permanent exhibition,СAPP she said.
СAPPn the first year I acted as project manager, overseeing the design and fabrication companies, the writing of the content, and supervising artifact acquisition,СAPP she said. СAPPOnce we opened in 2018, I switched over to curator.
СAPP now oversee the maintenance of the permanent exhibition as well as the artifacts and the changing exhibition schedule for our two galleries,СAPP she said.
In the last decade, Stacey has achieved each goal she set for her career. She landed her dream job at the Louisiana State Museum and sheСAPPs gained more responsibilities in shaping exhibitions in her current position at The MAX.
СAPP donСAPPt know whatСAPPs next,СAPP she said. СAPP love working with museums, but I also was bit by the project management bug СAPP so IСAPPm not sure whatСAPPs in store for me next. IСAPPm excited to find out.СAPP
