Earlier this summer, the UNM Art Museum said goodbye and best wishes to Collections Associate Joseph McKee, whose four years with the museum, from student intern to collections professional, helped shape student-centered programs, strengthen collections stewardship and advance important initiatives. McKee has accepted a new position as Registrar for the Judy Chicago and Donald Woodman Studio. We’re grateful for all they’ve done for UNMAM!

From Student to Museum Leader

McKee joined UNMAM as a graphic design assistant in spring 2022, completing a practicum requirement for their museum studies minor. They also earned a bachelor’s degree in art history at UNM. During their practicum, they focused on creating UNMAM’s first printed visitor brochure and on designing an exhibition introductory panel. 

Their skills quickly made an impact. They were hired as Coordinator of Student Engagement and Technology in spring 2023 before moving into collections work as Collections Assistant in July 2025 and later as Collections Associate. In each role, McKee helped shape programs that connected collections, exhibitions, research and creative practice while underscoring the museum’s mission to place students at the center of its work. McKee concentrated on creating meaningful opportunities for students as collaborators in museum work, from serving as the staff liaison for the Student Advisory Council (SAC) to helping train Collections Apprentices during Collections Year. 

Joseph’s career at UNMAM illustrates what makes a teaching museum so special. They began here as a student and in the course of four years, embraced opportunities to grow along with the museum,” said UNMAM Director Arif Khan. “As our needs changed, Joseph was always willing to step into new roles and take on new challenges. On a small team, that kind of adaptability is invaluable.” 

Creating Opportunities With and For Students

Among their numerous projects, the ones they’re proudest of are those created alongside students, they said. 

One such example was the SAC, which gave students the chance to work directly with the UNMAM collection while gaining professional development. The group also served as an advisory group for UNMAM functions. Between fall 2023 and spring 2025, the SAC developed a reading list that paired with exhibition content, created an online reading list and playlist, organized a museum birthday celebration, produced two exhibition-inspired zines, produced a Beaumont Newhall Study Room guide and developed a pull list around a Lines theme. 

McKee said that they’re especially excited about the zine linked to the UNMAM exhibition Hindsight Insight 5.0. Inspired by exhibition artworks, SAC created original scholarship and creative work. Their projects ranged from comics illustrated with handmade cottonwood tree ink to a reimagining of a 19^th-century microscopic album through the collection and documentation of everyday trash. 

McKee notes that the zine is an example of how collections can inspire unexpected forms of research and creativity. They credit participating students for the impressive outcomes and for creating reciprocity.

I learned that not only could I lead a group of students, but also learn from them. I really see the success of the SAC projects as a result of their thoughtfulness and hard work,” they said.

In their work with students, McKee says they focused on creating space for students to develop ideas collaboratively, conduct research and take ownership of the final product. “There’s a lot of space that students want to take up to do creative work that is not graded,” they said.  

When designing a program or outreach activity, McKee said they asked themselves: “What would I have been excited to work on as an undergraduate student?” The answer led to projects such as those for the SAC, but also activities such as managing Here to Inspire: The UNM Art Museum Journal, which invited students to submit academic articles, and coordinating outreach activities. 

“One of Joseph’s greatest strengths is their ability to connect with students in meaningful ways,” Khan said. “They helped build a culture at UNMAM where student ideas are valued and where students and staff work alongside each other.” 

Associate Director of Operations Devin E. Geraci also reflected on the contributions McKee made to UNMAM. 

“I had the pleasure of first working with Joseph as a student and graphic designer in 2022. Welcoming them back to the museum as a staff member and witnessing their growth as a peer, professional and trusted collaborative partner has been a privilege. Over the past four years, Joseph has brought innovation and creativity into every area of the museum. They have been a thoughtful advocate for the student experience across all levels and a valued mentor to our student employees,” she said.  

Joseph will be dearly missed by everyone at UNMAM but their contributions will have a lasting impact on the museum’s legacy. As McKee begins the next installment of their career, the programs and student opportunities they helped build will continue to shape UNMAM in the future,” Geraci said. 

Helping Guide Collections Management 

During the museum’s 2025-26 Collections Year, UNMAM paused public exhibition programs to focus on collections stewardship. McKee first served as Collections Assistant before becoming Collections Associate.

Their responsibilities included helping supervise and train students hired as Collections Apprentices, who gained hands-on experience in object handling, condition reporting, cataloging and collections research.  

Working with objects from across five centuries gave apprentices insight into all aspects of the care needed to steward a museum collection. McKee again credits students for adapting to highly technical work. “It’s not an easy feat to go from working at the front desk or as a gallery monitor to handling objects, conducting research or doing some very technical tasks.”

In the process, apprentices learned what McKee also came to understand: that collections management never ends. For example, projects that once seemed to be complete may require revisiting years later, given new information or updated records. 

Such a realization also helped reshape McKee’s understanding of institutions, they said. “We think of institutions as stable, permanent things, but they’re actually very delicate.” 

Supporting UNMAM’s Digital Future

During Collections Year, McKee helped lead the museum’s transition to The Museum System (TMS), a collections database that will improve collections management and lay the groundwork for the future launch of eMuseum, giving the public online access to portions of the museum’s permanent collection. Leading the onboarding of TMS started with the transfer of more than 30,000 object records and more than 12,000 photographs. 

McKee also trained senior staff on the new system and designed customized workflows and database views to support museum departments. They led efforts to standardize object classifications and terminology, improving searchability, consistency and the use of culturally sensitive language throughout the database. Their work will make such information at UNMAM available publicly for the first time. 

Additionally, McKee developed UNMAM’s first digital asset management and preservation protocols, helping the museum build the infrastructure needed to care for born-digital and time-based media. Their work included creating guidelines for file format, condition reporting and digital preservation, establishing new procedures for UNMAM’s first born-digital video piece, Rose B. Simpson’s Seminar.

“With their work on initiatives such as TMS and digital protocols, Joseph has greatly helped update the museum’s collections practices. They’ve also helped create a foundation for strengthening access to and stewarding the collection in the future,” Khan said. 

Celebrating Collaboration

McKee says that UNMAM’s greatest strength is in its role as a teaching museum, with a collection that serves as a resource for collaboration and experimentation.  

When they consider their time at UNMAM, arriving as a student employee and returning as a staff member, they note the trust the UNMAM team provided to support experimentation and imagine possibilities.

I’m really grateful to the team here for allowing me to take space and make space for all I was able to do.” 

We’re grateful for all you’ve contributed, Joseph. We wish you great success in your new role! Thank you!