Following a competitive application process, Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG), represented by Stacie Brennan ’03, curator of education at LUAG, has been selected as a participant in the Museum Social Impact in Practice (MSIIP) cohort – a three-year initiative led by the American Alliance of Museums and funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The initiative, which includes 40 participating museums from 25 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, provides data collection strategies, technical training and collaborative learning opportunities to cohort members seeking to analyze their museums’ social contributions. The only museum in Pennsylvania selected to participate, LUAG is also among only five academic museums nationwide that will join the research cohort.
Brennan is responsible for LUAG education and community programming, which serves a range of audiences from K-12 students and educators to Lehigh faculty and students to community members of all ages.
“As an academic art museum, we have so much potential to serve as a laboratory and resource for intergenerational programs that connect the campus and community, foster stronger relationships and enrich cultural experiences for all,” says Brennan. “LUAG is at a pivotal time of growth, and the social impact study and cohort will be essential in helping us learn and develop best practices to analyze and prioritize our offerings so that we can best serve and engage our audiences.”
For LUAG, the fellowship represents an exciting opportunity to deepen its commitment to community engagement, impact and inclusivity, reinforcing its role as a significant cultural resource to both campus and the wider community.
“Museums are engines for community building, conveners of diverse viewpoints and catalysts for well-being,” says William Crow, LUAG director. “LUAG is honored to be selected for this important national research project that will advance our knowledge of how museums create public value and benefit all.”
Throughout its nearly 100 years in existence (LUAG celebrates its centennial in 2026), the museum has amassed a collection of over 20,000 artworks from diverse time periods and cultures. The LUAG campus presence includes a network of seven satellite galleries, 56 sculptures located across campus grounds and an outdoor exhibition that lines the 1.9-mile long South Bethlehem Greenway.
LUAG exhibitions are amplified by social, experience-based programs that are designed to invite all members of the community to engage in the creative process and offer LUAG as a resource for lifelong learning. The MSIIP initiative supports LUAG in its goals to refine its strategies for social impact while providing insights that shape future initiatives.
“Through this collaboration, we can leverage the collective knowledge and strategies of the MSIIP cohort to address common challenges and explore new opportunities,” says Brennan. “It perfectly aligns with our mission to be a catalyst for cultural engagement and education, and we’re committed to using the findings to drive meaningful, measurable social impact.”
“Museums are vital community assets,” adds Crow. “This national research study will strengthen our understanding of LUAG’s positive impact, both on campus and in the region.”
