Peer Groups
Peer Groups offer NYCMER members the opportunity to gather with colleagues and explore topics of shared interest.
Peer Groups are a NYCMER membership benefit and meet throughout the year. We invite non-members to attend one peer group meeting to learn more about NYCMER. A schedule of upcoming meetings can be found on our event calendar.
To suggest a new group, please email info@nycmer.org for more information. New peer group proposals are reviewed and processed every winter.
Join a Peer Group!
Our Currently Active Peer Groups
- Book Club #NYCMERReads
- Digital Media and Technologies
- Docent, Intern and Volunteer Supervisors
- Early Childhood
- Exhibitions and Interpretation
- Historic Sites
- K-12 and Family Programmers
- Neurodivergent Educator Peer Group
- Queer Peers
Scroll down for descriptions and contact information.
***NYCMER is currently seeking Peer Group Leaders for the following groups***
- Access
- Adult Programs
- Artist/Educators
- English Language Learners & Cultural Diversity
- Evaluation
- Managers
- Outdoor Education
- Regional Meetups (Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island)
- Teen Programs
We're taking applications on a rolling basis for these Peer Group Leader roles.
To apply, please complete this form. For any questions related to Peer Groups, please reach out to NYCMER Secretary at info@nycmer.org.
Peer Group Descriptions and Contact Information
Access
The Access Peer Group is a forum for museum education colleagues interested in accessibility. The goal of the group is to be a convener for best practices, professional development, and resources.
The Access Peer Group is currently without a Peer Group Leader. For more information on leading the Access Peer Group, please email info@nycmer.org.
Adult Programs
Adult Programs Peer Groups discusses all aspects of adult programs production from conception to evaluation. Sessions provide opportunities to talk about best practices and resource sharing among peers.
The Adult Programs Peer Group is currently without a Peer Group Leader. For more information on leading the Access Peer Group, please email info@nycmer.org.
Artist/Educators
This peer group serves teaching artists as well as practicing artists working as educators in museums, schools, and other cultural organizations. In this group, we will address the challenges of balancing work as an artist with teaching responsibilities, share strategies for engaging students with all types of art-making experiences, and discuss other issues at the intersection of contemporary art and informal education. You need not be teaching directly from an art practice to share your experiences with the group. Meetings include lively discussions, guest speakers, studio shares, and field trips.
The Artist/Educators Peer Group is currently without a Peer Group Leader. For more information on leading the Access Peer Group, please email info@nycmer.org.
Book Club #NYCMERReads
NYCMER Reads brings together arts & culture professionals to read and discuss nonfiction and fiction books related to museums at monthly meetups. The goal of NYCMER Reads is to encourage members to expand their museum knowledge and engagement through reading and discussing both nonfiction books about museum pedagogy and fiction books with museum-related themes because reading can be both for learning and FUN!
#NYCMERReads is currently looking for a peer group co-leader to help shape this next iteration of Book Club. Please contact Peer Group Leader Alicia Juillet if you're interested or for more information.
Digital Media and Technologies
How are digital media and technologies transforming museums and their missions? What challenges and opportunities come with keeping pace in an ever-evolving digital landscape? If you’re curious about how museums are leveraging innovative digital tools, technologies, and strategies to reimagine programming, exhibitions, storytelling, learning, and visitor engagement in museums, this is the community for you. Join us as we share insights, resources, success stories, and practical tips–all while planning meetups to explore examples of how the digital landscape is reshaping the future of museums. Whether you’re an expert or just starting out, this is your chance to be part of an exciting conversation about the intersection of museums and technology!
For more information, please email John Sapida, Digital Media and Technologies Peer Group Leader.
Docent, Intern and Volunteer Supervisors
Working with docents and volunteers can present its own challenges, uniquely different to the supervision of paid employees. This peer group seeks to bring together docent,volunteer, and intern supervisors from various museums and cultural institutions across New York City to learn from each other, share resources and ideas.
For more information, please contact Barbara Cohen-Stratyner and Jade Johnson, Docent, Intern, and Volunteer Supervisors Peer Group Co-Leaders.
Early Childhood
Join the Early Childhood Peer Group to exchange ideas about audience development, program evaluation, pedagogy, professional development, programs for early childhood, family audiences, and more.
For more information, please email Laura Kujo and/or Kristin Scarola, Early Childhood Peer Group Co-Leaders.
English Language Learners & Cultural Diversity
The English Language Learners & Cultural Diversity Peer Group supports museum educators in better serving the huge variety of linguistic and cultural communities in the NYC area, including people learning English as a new language (ENL/ELL).
The English Language Learners & Cultural Diversity Peer Group is currently without a Peer Group Leader. For more information on leading the ELL & Cultural Diversity Peer Group, please email info@nycmer.org.
Evaluation
Mention the word 'Evaluation,' and chances are anxiety levels will rise and palms will sweat. But it doesn't have to be that way! The Evaluation Peer Group is intended to serve any educational professional who has been tasked with answering "Were we successful?" in program design and delivery. Join us as we explore and share best practices in evaluation -- from strategies and methods to tools and techniques.
The Evaluation Peer Group is currently without a Peer Group Leader. For more information on leading the Evaluation Peer Group, please email info@nycmer.org.
Exhibitions and Interpretation
Join the E&I peer group to share ideas as we discuss a wide range of topics, such as interactive exhibit design, the latest tech, and how to tackle sensitive material in interpretation. Meetings alternate between site visits for a close look at exhibits, and casual happy hour meet-ups for networking and discussion. For professionals at all stages of their careers.

For more information, please email Christa May, Exhibitions and Interpretation Peer Group Leader.
Historic Sites
Historic sites offer specialized support to educators working in a wide variety of cultural institutions of all sizes including historic houses, libraries, and City, State, and Federal sites. Our meetings happen 4-6 times per year and feature a combination of virtual meetings and site visits.

For more information, please email Scott Brevda, Historic Sites Peer Group Leaders.
K-12 and Family Programmers
This peer group provides a space for museum professionals and teachers to share best practices and explore resources that will help us enhance our work with K-12 students, teachers and families both at our sites and off our sites. We explore equity, diversity, and inclusion within the educational landscape and invite diverse perspectives and voices. Programming includes both presentations/workshops as well as more informal discussions on the state of the field.
For more information, please email Julia Butterfield, K-12 and Family Programmers Peer Group Leader.
Managers
One of the causes of employee dissatisfaction is related to how a person is managed. From micromanaging to macro-managing, a manager must find the balance that works best for their team in order to thrive. Join us as we start the discussion of efficient managerial practices and how to be an effective leader. Throughout the year we will tackle topics such as diversity and inclusion, managing up, down, and across, the art of giving fruitful feedback, and much more. This group is open to all museum professionals who manages staff, interns, volunteers, project, or a mixture of all four.

The Managers Peer Group is currently without a Peer Group Leader. For more information on leading the Managers Peer Group, please email info@nycmer.org.
Neurodivergent Educator Peer Group
The term neurodivergent has been around for many years. In recent years, it’s come to the forefront, with more people understanding and identifying as neurodivergent. Come to a peer group with fellow educators/museum workers who identify as neurodivergent. A safe space to discuss how we are each feeling professionally, train together, and share readings, tours and even games.
For more information, please email Christine Quigley, Neurodivergent Educator Peer Group Leader.
Queer Peers
Queer Peers seeks to provide a safer, braver space for LGBTQ+ museum educators, museum workers, and museum professionals. This NYCMER Peer Group is for connecting and networking, sharing ideas and best practices, building community, and developing programming about/for the LGBTQ+ community within museums and cultural institutions.
Founded in 2019 by Michael Stevens, Queer Peers continues to meet each year - starting with LGBTQ History Month in October and ending with Pride Month in June.

For more information, please email Maria Wood and/or Jane Sheedy, Queer Peers Group Co-Leaders.
Teen Programs
The Teen Programs Peer Group is a dedicated community within NYCMER, created to bring together professionals who work in, or are interested in, teen programming. This peer group will serve as a platform for members to share insights, research, and best practices while fostering collaboration, networking, and professional growth. By participating in this group, members will have the opportunity to discuss current trends, tackle common challenges, and enhance the overall quality and impact of their respective teen programs.
The Teen Programs Peer Group is currently without a Peer Group Leader. For more information on leading the Teen Programs Peer Group, please email info@nycmer.org.
Have questions? We’re here to chat!
Have questions about being on the board or the application process? Email nominations@nycmer.org, If you’d like to chat about being on the NYCMER Board, please let us know what position you’re interested in when you email, we’ll set up a time for you to talk to a board member one on one.
About NYCMER
NYCMER was founded in 1979 and continues to grow with membership from across the tri-state area, representing a variety of disciplines, work settings, roles and career stages. NYCMER provides a forum for museum education professionals to address meaningful issues relevant to our work and to exchange and disseminate current information. We collaboratively produce professional development opportunities for our members and guests such as workshops, roundtable discussions, seminars, symposia, peer groups, and conferences.
About the NYCMER Board
NYCMER’s governing body is the Board of Trustees, consisting of current NYCMER Members all serving in non-salaried positions. The Board consists of four Officers (President, Vice President, Secretary & Peer Groups Liaison, Treasurer); five Appointed Trustees (Archivist, Resources & Social Media Coordinator, Membership Coordinator, Event and Job Listings Coordinator and Website Coordinator); and no fewer than eight Trustees-at-Large elected from among the Members. No more than three Trustees may have the same full-time institutional affiliation.
The Board's obligation to its members is to govern in a style that embraces and supports diversity on many levels, including but not limited to race, ability, and identity, incorporates a spectrum of perspectives, and emphasizes the importance of equity.
The purposes of the Board as set forth in its 501(c)(3) Certificate of Incorporation are:
- to address issues of museum and educational interest;
- to explore and implement cooperative programming opportunities through roundtable discussions, workshops, seminars, symposia, professional development series, and conferences; and
- to pursue related charitable, cultural and educational purposes as permitted under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The purposes of the Board as set forth in its 501(c)(3) Certificate of Incorporation are:

- to address issues of museum and educational interest;
- to explore and implement cooperative programming opportunities through roundtable discussions, workshops, seminars, symposia, professional development series, and conferences; and
- to pursue related charitable, cultural and educational purposes as permitted under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
About Board Positions
- All NYCMER Board roles are two-year terms, so half of the positions are open for nominations each year.
- A summary of all Board Roles and Responsibilities can he found here.
How do I vote?
- In April all NYCMER members will receive a ballot via Election Runner.
- To vote for member-elected positions, make sure that your NYCMER membership is up to date! You can check your membership status by logging into the Member Portal. If you have any questions, our Membership Coordinator at membership@nycmer.org.
Board Roles & Responsibilities
NYCMER board trustees are active NYCMER members that are elected, and who agree to volunteer their time, typically serving in 2-year terms. All trustees develop, facilitate, and lead monthly professional development programs and serve on committees to ensure that events and activities are carried out in accordance with the goals and objectives of NYCMER’s mission, policies, and bylaws. The Board's obligation to its members is to govern in a style that embraces and supports diversity on many levels, including but not limited to race, ability, and identity, incorporates a spectrum of perspectives, and emphasizes the importance of equity.
The annual board term and fiscal year runs from July 1 of the current year, through June 30 of the following year.
All NYCMER Board members make the following commitments:

- Full-day retreat: a one-day, in-person retreat (with hybrid option) scheduled annually in the late summer.
- Monthly Meetings: held once a month, September – May, with a schedule determined at the beginning of the term. In the past few years, these have been held on the first Tuesday/month from 6-8pm, and have alternated between online and in-person (with hybrid option) meetings. Board members must attend at least 6 of the 9 meetings annually. An additional June meeting is typically abbreviated, followed by a celebratory dinner.
- Monthly Program & Administrative Committees: All board members serve on administrative and event committees, the number of which varies by position. In addition, Board members are expected to attend at least three monthly programs.
- Annual Conference: NYCMER Board members are expected to attend the annual conference, and may assist the Vice President and Conference Committee in executing the NYCMER annual conference in May. Board members may also serve on the Conference Committee, but this is in addition to any administrative committees they also serve on.
Officers
The officers of the Corporation are the President, Vice President, Secretary & Peer Group Liaison, and Treasurer, and are elected by the general membership.
President
The President is responsible for the overall administration of NYCMER and presides over meetings of the Board and events organized for the membership. The President provides leadership in the formulation and implementation of strategic planning and policies, and serves as the chair of the Executive Committee.
Vice President
The Vice President serves as Chair of the Annual Conference. In such capacity, they interview, hire and train an intern, form a Conference Committee, appoint subcommittee chairs, establish the Annual Conference topic, oversee the program design and schedule, establish a budget, and report on Conference Committee proceedings to the Board. At the request of the President or in their absence, the Vice President shall perform the duties and exercise the functions of the President.
Secretary & Peer Group Liaison
The Secretary & Peer Group Liaison is responsible for keeping minutes of all meetings of the Board as well as coordinating and liaising with Peer Group leaders to ensure that those groups provide NYCMER members with meaningful opportunities for collaboration, develop and share materials and resources, and conduct themselves in accordance with the organization’s guidelines.
Treasurer
The Treasurer serves as an officer on the NYCMER Board and is responsible for supervision of NYCMER's financial records, chairing the Finance Committee, filing of the organization's taxes annually, and close coordination with other Board Officers and Trustees. The Treasurer works with board members to pursue additional funding opportunities and ensure financial stability.
APPOINTED TRUSTEES
The NYCMER board is required to include 6 Appointed Trustees: Archivist, Events Coordinator, Membership Coordinator, Postings Coordinator, Resources and Social Media Coordinator, and Website Coordinator. In a given year, the Board may add Appointed Trustee positions as needed. These positions are appointed by a majority vote of the full Board.
Archivist
The Archivist is responsible for maintaining the historical records and files of the organization. This position plays a key role in ongoing strategic planning projects and membership initiatives that require the organization and dissemination of archived materials. The Archivist serves as the chair of the Governance Committee.
Events Coordinator
The Events Coordinator is responsible for event logistics across the organization, including those for monthly programs and Board meetings. This position serves as a liaison and resource between program teams, relevant Board Committees (i.e. Communications) and vendor sourcing. The Events Coordinator is not responsible for content-planning, but focuses on project management and streamlining event production.
Membership Coordinator
The Membership Coordinator solicits new memberships, processes renewal notices, provides the Board with current membership information and works with fellow board members to expand and better understand our member base.
Postings Coordinator
The Postings Coordinator processes all job posting submissions and ensures that all information is complete, processes all event postings for the web calendar, and works with fellow board members to increase the prominence and visibility of these resources.
Resources & Social Media Coordinator
Resources & Social Media Coordinator is responsible for disseminating content to the membership via the website and other forums including Twitter, Flickr, and other social media. The Resources & Social Media Coordinator typically serves as the chair of the Communications and Marketing Committee.
Website Coordinator
The Website Coordinator maintains the Corporation’s website by posting the Corporation’s program announcements and other documents, updating the site as needed and assessing and implementing current technology and design. He or she also plays a significant role in organizing and coordinating communication with membership.
TRUSTEES-AT-LARGE
Trustees-at-large are elected by the general membership and play key roles in various committees and event planning, supporting the titled positions, and can join a variety of board projects.
INTERN
The Board approves the annual hiring of a paid intern for a one-year term. The Intern’s primary responsibility is to work with the Vice President planning the Annual Conference. The Intern will attend Board and Conference Committee Meetings, and may have other powers and duties as the Board may designate. As paid personnel of NYCMER, the intern is expected to attend Board meetings as a non-voting member.
