The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens recently announced Amber Angeloni, Manager of Visitor Experience was honored as the 2024 recipient of the Nancy Hanks Award for Rising Stars by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM).

It is the only organization representing the entire scope of the national museum community. AAM announced on March 19 the individuals, programs, and institutions recognized for their leadership and excellence within the museum field. These honorees showcase the vital role that every museum professional plays in building thriving museums, strong communities, and a better world.

In January 2023, Angeloni launched the museum’s successful Gallery Host Program. It measurably improved visitor satisfaction by transforming traditional gallery security positions into Gallery Hosts, trained to educate and converse with visitors about art, in addition to policies. In addition to daily engagement with visitors, she and the Gallery Host team developed successful public tours designed around a range of topics to boost engagement from more diverse groups in the community and foster a greater sense of belonging for visitors.

The AAM Awards and Recognition Program is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and relevant to the broad scope of the museum field, celebrating the vital work that propels our field forward. Awards are given to individuals, programs, and institutions for their exceptional impact within the field. For 2024, AAM Board Chair Jorge Zamanillo also announced a Chair’s Leadership Award, reserved for rare occasions to honor outstanding leadership and extraordinary accomplishments.

Awards will be presented at the 2024 AAM Annual Meeting & Museum Expo in Baltimore, MD.