Introduction

The Michigan Museums Association (MMA) is excited to offer a special concurrent session at the 2026 conference designated for students! This session will offer three selected students the opportunity to share their research, class projects, and field experiences. Proposals are now open through May 8th, 2026.
The 2026 conference will be held in Oakland County from October 19 through October 21. The student session will be held on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 19th. Student presenters will receive complimentary full conference registration and a $200 stipend to cover travel expenses.
We invite proposals for presentations on any topic within the field of museums although preference may be given to those that fit the conference theme, Stronger Together: Empowering the Michigan Museum Community. Students will have 12-15 minutes to present. Time for participant Q&A will be at the end of the session as time allows. The use of a PowerPoint is encouraged. For more information about the conference theme or the conference, please visit the MMA Conference Website.
Participants in the student session must be enrolled in a museum studies, public history, historic preservation, or related program, and a recommendation from an instructor or advisor is required. Proposals will also be accepted from recent graduates who graduated within the last 6 months, but presentations should focus on projects completed as a student. MMA seeks to showcase students from programs across the state—both undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to apply. Students are strongly encouraged to work with their program faculty to shape a successful proposal.
Presentation proposals must be submitted online via SurveyMonkey by 5:00pm on May 8th, 2026. Proposals will be reviewed by a committee of MMA members who will determine which proposals will be accepted. Final selection and notifications will be made by May 26th, 2026.

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