Effective Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism Practices for Museums

Cecile Shellman is a full-time consultant in diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion for museums. From 2014-2018 she worked for Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh as their diversity catalyst—a first-of- its-kind position on their senior executive staff, heading DEAI initiatives for Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, and the Andy Warhol Museum. She was the only African American on that institution’s institute leadership team, which included museum directors, institute vice presidents, and the chief executive officer. She specializes in group diversity and inclusion training, leadership counseling, public speaking, and workshop facilitation.Cecile understands museums, having a long and varied history working in a variety of departments in museums from the early 1990s to the present day, from the Intermountain West to New England, New York, and Appalachia. Her past appointments have included education curator, exhibit curator, director of education, group and community outreach specialist, artistic director for visual arts and exhibitions, and culturally responsive arts education program manager at Pittsburgh Public Schools, connecting students to museums and other cultural assets.Ms. Shellman has long served in leadership positions for the American Alliance of Museums, and is immediate past chair their Professional Network’s Diversity Committee, DIVCOM. She is a frequent presenter at the AAM Annual Convening on topics related to DEAI, has been featured and published in MUSEUM magazine and on AAM’s website, and was a contributor to Johhnetta Betsch Cole and Laura L. Lott, (ed.) Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion in Museums (2019).

• IntroductionChapter 1: The Only One in the RoomChapter 2: Why DEAI? Why These Terms, and This Acronym?Chapter 3: Places of Safety and RefugeChapter 4: Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Inclusion, Justice, and Anti-OppressionChapter 5: Case Studies and Practical Exercises for Deeper EngagementChapter 6: Our Duty to the Field and Each OtherAppendix: Additional Readings and ResourcesAbout the Author

This book is a phenomenal resource for organizations working on DEI initiatives. Cecile highlights complex issues by sharing her deep experience from her work in the field while also providing a practical guide for institutions to work towards their goals. This is a wonderful pairing of knowledge and practice to create awareness and movement for institutions that desire to change.