Isra El-beshir Named to the Board of Directors for the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries

By Brian Laubscher
July 18, 2024

Isra El-beshir, director of art museums and galleries at Washington and Lee University, was recently selected as an at-large member of the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries (AAMG) Board of Directors.

At-large board members are crucial to the organization in several ways, helping to strengthen the organization among its members by tracking industry-wide developments and demographic shifts within the museum and gallery professions. They serve as a liaison between the board and AAMG members and spearhead initiatives to enhance student engagement, professional development and DEI programming. El-beshir will also play a role in managing and recruiting to various AAMG committees and will contribute to varied organizational projects and publications as needed.

"I am deeply honored to have been elected as a board member of the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries," said El-beshir. "This opportunity marks a significant milestone in my career and for the Museums at W&L, where our partnership with the AAMG will enable us to adopt best practices and maintain the highest standards in museum education and management. I am eager to contribute to and benefit from the AAMG's extensive network, and I look forward to playing a meaningful role in advancing the AAMG's mission and strategic goals."

El-beshir will serve a three-year term on the board, receiving the necessary training to take over as the association's treasurer for an additional three years starting in 2026.

El-beshir joined W&L in 2020 as associate director of museums, and she was elevated to director in 2022. She currently serves on the advisory council of Held in Trust, a three-year cooperative agreement between the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation that seeks to evaluate the state of preservation and conservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage in the United States. El-beshir holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in international business and a Master of Arts in cultural anthropology. She previously served as the founding executive director of Illinois Art Station and curator of education and public programming at the Arab American National Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate.

The AAMG is the leading educational and professional organization for academic museums, galleries and collections. In recognition of the unique opportunities and challenges of its constituents, the AAMG establishes and supports best practices, educational activities and professional development that enable its member organizations to fulfill their educational missions.

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