Museums play an important role in learning, storytelling and community, and UW Museology students have fostered a place on campus for just that.

The two-year Museology master’s program features a cohort model to connect students with peers in hands-on learning scenarios. To help build a sense of community and engage with the iSchool more broadly, students recently formed MUSER, a registered student organization.

The RSO’s primary mission is to foster an inclusive and supportive environment, providing opportunities for professional growth and meaningful connections with the UW network at large. 

At their first meeting (pictured at top), RSO Outreach Coordinator Lucas Terry noted that MUSER stands for Museology Union for Student Events and Resources, adding that “as we establish this RSO, we have access to the larger iSchool community.”

Members intend to support the community by integrating networking and mentorship events, including guest speakers and 2+1 coordination — where a first-year student is paired with a second-year student mentor. Additionally, the RSO will support the Museology program by assembling the graduation committee, moderating the community Discord server, planning the incoming class welcome party and maintaining iSchool liaisons.

To keep the RSO running smoothly, MUSER appointed Terry and other members to executive board positions. Second-year student Shylee Wheeler serves as MUSER’s first president, alongside Vice President Grace Gousman, Secretary Amanda Rodgers, and Treasurer Ginger McCormick. Michael Zamudio and Anya Lord are the iSchool Museology representatives for the UW’s Graduate and Professional Student Senate Board and Olivia Jenkins and Karino Wada serve as the iSchool liaisons.

At their first meeting, Wheeler shared with club members some of the advantages of becoming an official RSO. “We got to write our own bylaws and create structure for what we were doing,” she said. "Being the president has been really exciting because the concept of this RSO was initially presented to us from a compilation of different student building activities that didn't really come from one place or have one name. So, being able to create a structured and stable space for student connection has been really special and I'm excited to pass on what we've been able to develop to those that come next to see what future students can achieve with this new organization.”

MUSER marks a significant step in the Museology program’s integration with the iSchool. McCormick said, “I'm really excited we get the opportunity to add to the Museology program and connect with the iSchool more and be able to give students not only events but the resources that we are not really aware of.”