Washington and Lee University (W&L) established the Museums Student Engagement Committee (MSEC) in December 2023 to strengthen ties between students and the W&L Art Museum and Galleries (AMG). The committee, composed of students from various class years, advises museum staff on programming, exhibitions, and events to make the museum more relevant and accessible. Officers include Avery Dennard, Hailey Neaman, Nora Kuhn, and Grace McCurdy, with advisors Isra El-beshir and Jessica Wager.
This initiative matters because it models how campus museums can actively involve students in shaping their cultural spaces, ensuring that collections and programming resonate with younger audiences. By giving students a formal voice in museum operations, MSEC promotes interdisciplinary engagement and helps sustain the museum's role as a vibrant hub for learning and social interaction on campus.