Alumna Alexis Assam Awarded Romare Bearden Graduate Fellowship at St. Louis Art Museum

Congratulations to recent alumna Alexis Assam (MA ’18), who is joining the Saint Louis Art Museum for the 2018–19 academic year as the Romare Bearden Museum Fellow.  The mission of this prestigious fellowship, established in 1992, is to expand the number of underrepresented professionals working in art-related fields in museums, galleries, non-profit organizations and universities. Alexis has been appointed to the Department of Audience Development, where she will work with the curatorial, learning and engagement, and development departments on specific projects tailored to her background and interests.

Alexis attributes her success to her experience working as a museum assistant at the Gadsden Art Center and Museum in Quincy, FL; the mentorship of her advisor Dr. Paul Niell, who fostered and encouraged her interests in the art of the African Diaspora; and the guidance and research support of Arts Librarian Leah Sherman. She also describes the value of her work in the Gadsden ArtZone, and the experience in public programming she gained during the two Art History Graduate Student Symposia that took place during her tenure as vice president of the Art History Association:

My main role at the Gadsden was working as the educator in the ArtZone, a drop-in art studio for the children of Gadsden County and surrounding areas. My colleagues at the Gadsden helped to mold me into a well-rounded museum professional and their mentorship helped to launch me into a larger institution. The professional experience I gained and the contacts I made outside of the classroom were just as important as the MA itself.