Affinity Groups are Free for TAM Members
Affinity Groups Are Now Free for All TAM Members
We shared some exciting news at this year’s TAM 2026 Annual Meeting: participation in TAM Affinity Groups is now a complimentary benefit of membership.
That means if you’re an active member of the Texas Association of Museums, you can now join any of our Affinity Groups at no additional cost.
Affinity Groups are a great way to connect with peers who share your professional interests, job functions, or areas of expertise. These groups create space for museum professionals across Texas to build relationships, share resources, discuss challenges, and collaborate year-round — not just at the annual conference.
We’re especially excited to introduce several new affinity groups this year as our community continues to grow and evolve.
Whether you work in exhibitions, education, collections, leadership, development, consulting, oral history, or beyond, there’s likely a group for you.
Join an Affinity Group
Browse the groups below and click the links to join any that interest you. We’d love to see you at an upcoming meeting!
Learn More & Join:
- AAG - Art Affinity Group
- CMC - Collections Managers Committee
- HSHAG - Historic Sites & Houses Affinity Group
- M&M - Marketing/PR & Media Affinity Group
- MELT - Mid-career & Emerging Leaders of TAM
- IDEA - Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Access
- TAMEC - TAM Educators’ Committee
- TAMEL - TAM Executive Leaders
- Museum Exhibitions Affinity Group
- OHSNAP - Oral History Scholars aNd Archives Professionals
- DAM - Development & Membership
- IPAG - Independent Professionals Affinity Group
AAG - Art Affinity Group
The Art Affinity Group (AAG) supports professionals in the Texas museum community and arts/cultural community who work with art or artists on a regular basis.
Lindsey Maestri, Chair
Executive Director
The Louise Hopkins Center for the Arts (LHUCA)
511 Avenue K
Lubbock, TX 79401
Email: lindsey.maestri@lhuca.org
CMC - Collections Managers Committee
Texas collections managers, registrars and professionals in related fields come together in the Collections Managers Committee (CMC) to learn and promote the highest standards in their field, to network together, and to cooperate in creating the highest quality collections care for Texas museums.
CMC Website: https://www.texasmuseums.org/cmc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tamcollectionmanagers/
Aubrey Nielsen, Chair
Collections Manager
Brownsville Historical Association
Brownsville, Texas
Phone: (956) 372-1515
Email: anielsen@brownsvillehistory.org
HSHAG - Historic Sites and Houses Affinity Group
Historic Sites and Houses Affinity Group (HSHAG) is dedicated to promoting the awareness and preservation of Texas museums in historic structures and offering our members opportunities for networking, sharing of ideas and professional development.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3851504501612296
Alysha Donaho, Co-chair
Park Superintendent
Fort Parker State Park
Mexia, TX 76667
Email: alysha.donaho@tpwd.texas.gov
Steve Baird, Co-chair
Chief Historian
Klein Historical Foundation
Email: sbaird1@kleinisd.net
M&M - Marketing/PR and Media
Marketing/PR and Media Affinity Group (M&M) functions as a marketing/pr “think tank” for furthering museums as a form of education and entertainment. Targeted to museum professionals with responsibility for communications, M&M encourages members to share ideas and brainstorm new marketing and media avenues. The group provides a safe environment for members to offer insights into the successes and failures of efforts in their communities.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/marketingmediaprtamaffinitygroup/
Kali Ellis, Chair
Director of Development
San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield Association
1 Monument Circle
La Porte, TX 77571
Email: kellis@sanjacinto-museum.org
MELT - Mid-career & Emerging Leaders of TAM
Mid-career & Emerging Leaders of TAM (MELT) is a group of emerging and mid-career professionals who are navigating careers across different areas within the museum and public education fields. We are navigating new careers and changing tides together through support and networking opportunities with quarterly meetings, webinars, and an active social media presence.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/622271388245782
Kayte Ricketts, Co-Chair
Education Coordinator
Bell County Museum
201 N. Main
Belton, TX 76513
254-933-5741
Email: kayte.ricketts@bellcounty.texas.gov
Rachael Nadeau Johnson, Co-Chair
Collections Manager
Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute
300 S 5th St
Waco, TX 76701
254-757-1025
Email: rachael@drpeppermuseum.com
IDEA - Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Access
Texas Association of Museums Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) Affinity Group encourages diversity and inclusion among staff members of museums and cultural institutions in the Texas region.
IDEA is an outgrowth of the Affinity Group formerly known as the Multicultural Initiatives Committee.
Kheli Willetts, Co-Chair
Principal
Dira Professional Development, LLC
Email: kheli@dirapd.com
Kendal Smith Lake, Co-Chair
Director of Communications
The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Email: ksmith@themodern.org
Melody Cabán, IDEA Affinity Group Co-Chair
Founder
Melody Cabán Consulting
Email: melody@melodycabanconsulting.com
Join IDEA
TAMEC - TAM Educators’ Committee
TAM Educators’ Committee (TAMEC) encourages a spirit of cooperation--through training, workshops, and networking between all museum educators and our colleagues from other disciplines in order to create the best possible museum educational experiences.
Emily MacDonald, Chair
Adjunct Lecturer in Museum Studies & Museum Engagement Manager
Mayborn Museum, Baylor University
1300 S. University Parks Drive
Waco, TX 76706
254-710-1110 work
Email: Emily_MacDonald1@baylor.edu
TAMEL - TAM Executive Leaders
TAM Executive Leaders Committee (TAMEL) provides a forum for support, collaboration, sharing, and benefit for Texas museum leaders with the goal of creating a more vibrant, sustainable museum community in Texas. Executive leaders who run a museum organization are invited to participate. These include Presidents, CEOs, and Directors.
Liz Jackson, Chair
President & CEO
Briscoe Western Art Museum
210 W. Market Street
San Antonio, TX 78205
210.299.4499
Email: Ljackson@briscoemuseum.org
Museum Exhibitions Affinity Group
The Museum Exhibitions Affinity Group is a professional community open to all museum professionals who share a passion for the art and practice of exhibition making. Members come together to exchange ideas, explore emerging trends, and engage in meaningful dialogue across all aspects of museum exhibitions — from concept development and design to fabrication, interpretation, and visitor experience. Whether you are a curator, exhibit designer, educator, project manager, museum director or collections specialist, or you're just starting, this group offers a collaborative space to learn, connect, and advance the field together.
Cecilia Abad, Chair
Exhibit Design and Project Management Specialist
San Jacinto Museum & Battlefield
1 Monument Circle
La Porte, TX 77571
281-479-2421
Email: Cecilia.Abad@thc.texas.gov
OHSNAP - Oral History Scholars aNd Archives Professionals
The O.H.S.N.A.P. (Oral History Scholars aNd Archives Professionals) Affinity Group brings together those working in oral history and archival practice across Texas. This group provides a space to share methodologies, resources, and best practices while fostering collaboration and dialogue around preserving and interpreting community stories.
Jason Fung, Chair
Archivist
Buffalo Soldiers National Museum
3816 Caroline St.
Houston, TX 77004
713-942-8920
Email: archive@buffalosoldiermuseum.com
DAM - Development & Membership Affinity Group
The Development & Membership (DAM) Affinity Group supports museum professionals across Texas in advancing best practices in fundraising, membership, and donor engagement. Open to anyone involved or interested in development and membership—whether staff, volunteer, or independent professional—DAM provides a collaborative space to share ideas, strategies, and resources.
Daniel Carey-Whalen, Chair
Director
Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens
610 W. University Ave
El Paso, TX 79968
915-747-5565
Email: djcareywhalen@utep.edu
IPAG - Independent Professionals Affinity Group
The Independent Professionals Affinity Group brings together consultants, contractors, and freelancers who support and collaborate with museums. This group provides a space to share expertise, build connections, and discuss the unique opportunities and challenges of working alongside museums across Texas.
Chair: Vacant
Contact us if you are interested in Chairing this Affinity Group!
Email: admin@texasmuseums.org