Leadership and Administration in History Organizations

Leadership and Administration in History Organizations

Instructor: Anne Ackerson
Dates: Mar 21, 2022 / June 13. 2022
Cost: $195 AASLH Members / $295 Nonmembers
Enroll and Pay

History museum leadership is more complex and demanding than ever before, requiring updated and innovative ways to meet mission and keep organizations healthy. Thoughtful, intentional museum administration and leadership matters, regardless of the size or focus of your organization.

During the eight weeks of this course, modules addressing governance and administrative structures, nonprofit status and the public trust, mission and vision, the relationship between board and staff, including their roles and responsibilities; strategic planning, human resource development and management, and leadership will be covered.

The course is divided into eight weekly segments and includes a combination of topical reading assignments and related weekly assignments and online chats. A final course assignment is due the last week of class.

  • Week 1: The Role, Challenges, and Expectations of History Museums Today
  • Week 2: The New Museum Leadership
  • Week 3: The Importance of Museum Vision and Mission
  • Week 4: Aligning Organizational Operating Models, Administrative and Management Responsibilities, Relationships, Structures, Systems and Networks
  • Week 5: Museum Boards Are Leaders, Too: Their Roles, Responsibilities, Expectations, and Their Relationship to the Director and to Museum Staff
  • Week 6: Human Resource Management – Building Effective Teams and Mentoring
  • Week 7: Making Leadership Intentional at All Levels Week Eight: Charting Your Museum's Future, Inspiring Action, and Measuring Effectivenes
  • Week 8: Charting Your Museum's Future, Inspiring Action, and Measuring Effectiveness


Two Required Textbooks: 

Leadership Matters: Leading Museums in an Age of Discord , Second Edition, Anne W. Ackerson and Joan H. Baldwin, 2019 and Museum Administration 2.0 , Hugh H. Genoways and Lynne M. Irleland, Revised by Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko, 2016. (Texts are NOT INCLUDED with your registration. You must order the books separately from the book seller of your choice. A discount code is provided after registration.)


For more information visit the AASLH website online courses page or contact Alex Collins AASLH, Education and Service Coordinator, at learn@aaslh.org or 615-320-3203.


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