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K-State Today

September 19, 2018

Faculty present on K-State engagement at conference for museum professionals

Submitted by Maggie Cody

Linda Duke, David Procter and Bonnie Lynn-Sherow

David Procter, director of the Center for Engagement and Community Development; Bonnie Lynn-Sherow, executive director of the Chapman Center for Rural Studies; and Linda Duke, executive director of the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, showcased how K-State is promoting community engagement in a presentation at the Mountain Plains Museums Association annual conference in Billings, Montana.

Procter introduced the program and foundational legacy of community engagement at K-State as a land-grant university. Elaborating on the work of the Center for Engagement and Community Development, Procter outlined K-State's active encouragement and facilitation of engagement, especially in the area of building museum programming and outreach.

Lynn-Sherow presented the Chapman Center for Rural Studies as a model of engagement. Developing community partnerships with Kansas museums, historical societies, and local historians has served as a catalyst for research networking, visibility of student research, increased donations, and can result in recognition and awards.

Duke described visual thinking strategies or VTS as a versatile engagement tool, then invited attendees to participate in a VTS discussion of an artwork that has been used in community partnerships. She mentioned several public programs, some initiated by the Center for Engagement and Community Development, that have employed VTS to encourage the sharing of diverse viewpoints.

The Mountain Plains Museums Association annual conference provides training, networking and information sharing for museum professionals. The conference is attended by 300-500 museum professionals each year.

To learn more about how the Center for Engagement and Community Development is helping build engagement, visit k-state.edu/cecd