TAM 2025 Award Recipients
Impact Awards | TAM 2025
A special thank you to Josie Mayes for fabricating the TAM 2025 Austin Awards.
Learn more here: https://josiemayesmetal.com/
The TAM Jo Stewart Randel Outstanding Trustee Award recognizes excellence and distinguished contributions by a volunteer trustee to museums in Texas. This award spotlights one outstanding trustee whose visionary leadership has made a significant impact on the museum(s) he or she serves. The award is named in honor and memory of Jo Stewart Randel (1915-2002), an exemplary museum trustee from the Texas panhandle who represented the Carson County Square House Museum.
David Valdez, recipient of the Jo Stewart Randel Outstanding Trustee Award, has brought exceptional leadership, creativity, and dedication to The Williamson Museum since 2018. A renowned photographer with a career spanning over 50 years—including serving as the Presidential Photographer for George H.W. Bush—Valdez has significantly advanced the museum’s mission through his innovative vision and community engagement. He joined the museum’s board in 2022 and now serves as Vice President. Among his many contributions, he co-founded the Georgetown Photography Festival, now the Texas Photography Festival, which attracts over 1,000 participants annually to historic downtown Georgetown. His impact extends beyond Williamson County, with previous roles at the Briscoe Center for American History and as an advisor to the Marlin Fitzwater School of Communications. Through every exhibit and program, Valdez’s passion and expertise have elevated the museum’s reach and relevance, making him a truly deserving honoree.
Award Recipient David Valdez and Danelle Houck, Executive Director of the Williamson Museum
Award Recipient David Valdez
The TAM President’s Award is given annually by the TAM Executive Committee at its discretion to an individual, institution or “partner” organization or foundation that has done significantly impactful work within the Texas museum community.
Humanities Texas, recipient of the TAM President’s Award, has been a driving force in advancing education and enriching communities across the state for over 50 years. As the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Humanities Texas supports teachers, libraries, and museums while creating meaningful opportunities for lifelong learning. Through programs that promote civic engagement, cultural enrichment, and historical understanding, the organization plays a vital role in strengthening Texas’s economy, democratic values, and cultural life. With a strong record of leadership, innovation, and stewardship, Humanities Texas exemplifies the impact and reach of the humanities in public life, making them a deserving honoree of this year’s award.
Eric Lupfer, Executive Director of Humanities Texas; Margaret Koch, Director of the Bullock Texas State History Museum; TAM President Michelle Everidge, President & CEO of the Witte Museum
Humanities Texas team and advocates attending the TAM 2025 Award Ceremony
TAM's Jack Nokes Outstanding Service Award was established to recognize significant contributions to the museum field, service to TAM, and truly remarkable individuals. Presented each year at the Annual Meeting of the Texas Association of Museums, this award is named in honor Jack Nokes, TAM Executive Director (1995 -2008).
Photos of Laura Casey provided by Ruth Ann Rugg, former Executive Director of TAM
Laura Casey, recipient of the Jack Nokes Outstanding Service Award, has dedicated her career to strengthening and supporting museums across Texas and beyond. As the longtime Museum Services Program Coordinator at the Texas Historical Commission, she has led statewide initiatives that have transformed the field, from launching widely attended professional development programs to developing resources that center Indigenous perspectives in exhibit development. Over her decades of service, Laura has built enduring partnerships with organizations such as the Texas Association of Museums, the Bullock Texas State History Museum, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, all while providing expert consultation and hands-on support to hundreds of museums. Known for her encyclopedic knowledge, thoughtful leadership, and tireless dedication to the field, Laura has been a constant, trusted presence in the Texas museum community. Her impact is lasting and far-reaching, making her a truly deserving honoree of this prestigious award.
Brittany Petrilli, TAM Executive Director; Jack Nokes, former TAM Executive Director and namesake of the Outstanding Service Award; Laura Casey, Award Recipient; Rebekah Dobrasko, Texas Department of Transportation
Jack Nokes, former TAM Executive Director and namesake of the Outstanding Service Award, pictured with this year’s honoree, Laura Casey
TAM’s Texas Museum Advocacy Award honors outstanding efforts in championing the interests of Texas museums at the local, state, or national level. This award recognizes individuals, institutions, or organizations whose advocacy has significantly advanced the visibility, support, and impact of museums across the state. Established at the TAM 2025 Annual Conference in Austin, this award underscores the vital role of advocacy in shaping the future of Texas museums.
Texans for the Arts (TFA) has been honored with the inaugural Texas Museum Advocacy Award in recognition of its unwavering commitment to championing the arts across the state. For over three decades, TFA has served as a leading nonpartisan voice, advocating for increased public funding, equitable access, and robust cultural policies that support Texas’s vibrant creative sector. Their strategic efforts have led to significant achievements, including securing the largest funding increase in Texas Commission on the Arts history and enhancing transparency in the use of local Hotel Occupancy Taxes for the arts. Through initiatives like Texas Arts Advocacy Day and the Texas Arts Advocacy Summit, TFA empowers artists, cultural leaders, and citizens to engage directly with policymakers, ensuring that the arts remain a vital part of Texas’s economy, education, and community well-being. This award celebrates TFA’s enduring impact and its role in elevating the arts statewide.
Chris Kiley, Executive Director of Texans for the Arts; Gary Gibbs, Executive Director of Texas Commission on the Arts; TAM President Michelle Everidge, President & CEO of the Witte Museum
Excellence Awards | TAM 2025
Thank you to the TAM 2025 Awards Committee, Chaired by Emily Hermans, Chief Educator at the Texas Historical Commission
TAM Awards Chair Emily Hermans, Chief Educator at the Texas Historical Commission
TAM promotes the highest standards of graphic design and media production through the annual Mitchell A.Wilder Publication Design Award Competition. The award is named in honor of one of the early advocates of excellence in museum publications, Mitchell A. Wilder (1913-1979), founding director of the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth.
Academic Showcase Competition Awards | TAM 2025
The Academic Showcase Competition celebrates the most outstanding student research projects presented at the TAM 2025 Annual Meeting. As part of the Students from colleges and campuses across Texas share their original contributions to the museum field with a statewide audience of professionals and scholars. A panel of museum experts judge the presentations during the conference, and top-ranked projects in each category receive formal recognition. This showcase not only highlights emerging voices in the field, but also reflects TAM’s commitment to building the pipeline for museum professionals.
Academic Showcase Competition Co-Chairs Emily Clark at Baylor University and Brandice Nelson at the Blanton Museum of Art
Graduate Winner | Alexis Thomas
Mapping the Past: Creating an Interactive Exhibit Map of Waco’s Historic Convenience Stores
Academic Showcase Co-Chair Emily Clark, Baylor University; Award Recipient Alexis Thomas; Academic Showcase Co-Chair Brandice Nelson, Blanton Museum of Art
Undergraduate Winner | Abigail Jones
Curating the Living Museum: Inventorying the Plant Collections of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
TAM Executive Director Brittany Petrilli; Academic Showcase Co-Chair Emily Clark, Baylor University; Award Recipient Abigail Jones; Academic Showcase Co-Chair Brandice Nelson, Blanton Museum of Art
Awards Ceremony Photography by Jae Jacobs Photography
We’re grateful to Jae Jacobs Photography for capturing this year’s Awards Ceremony.
Explore more of their work at jaejacobsphoto.com
TAM 2024 Lubbock Award Winners