It didn’t take long for Michèle Jubilee to realize the tangible benefits of joining the San Diego Emerging Museum Professionals (SDEMP), a local organization aimed at building bridges and nurturing connections for those interested in working in museums and cultural organizations.
“Being part of SDEMP as a community member and board member has genuinely shaped both my life and my career since I moved to San Diego in 2023,” she said. “I came to the city with an academic background in art history and visual arts, and professional experience in education, public programming and curatorial work in museums, as well as freelance creative projects. However, breaking into the local museum field was tough! There simply weren’t many openings, and it was easy to feel disconnected.”
Thanks to connections she made through SDEMP, Jubilee landed her current job: Conference Coordinator for the California Association of Museums (CAM), which is hosting its annual conference in Los Angeles in March.
Jubilee took some time recently to talk about SDEMP and its role in the community.
Q: Tell us more about San Diego Emerging Museum Professionals?
A: San Diego Emerging Museum Professionals (SDEMP) is a volunteer-led network for people building careers in museums and cultural organizations. The board creates opportunities for learning, connection and leadership through accessible events, mentorship, behind-the-scenes museum experiences and career-focused programming. At its core, SDEMP is about growing the next generation of museum professionals while strengthening the cultural community across San Diego County.
SDEMP is a volunteer-run organization guided by our board, composed of several working committees. Rather than relying on a traditional top-down structure, leadership is shared across the team to encourage collaboration, build leadership skills and create more entry points for members to take initiative. This model allows emerging professionals to gain real experience shaping programs and developing organizational strategy.
Board members get hands-on experience through our board committees; Outreach & Advocacy, Events & Stewardship, Marketing & Communications and Leadership. We work together to design meaningful, relevant programming, build external partnerships and shape the direction of the organization. From skill-building workshops to behind-the-scenes tours and career conversations, we partner with local museums and more experienced museum professionals who share their expertise through panels, mentorship and learning opportunities. Our programs are designed to help bridge the gap between those new to the field and established leaders, creating connections and pathways to new skills, new jobs and a wider community.
Q: When was it started in San Diego, and why?
A: SDEMP was launched in San Diego in 2013 in response to a clear gap: early-career museum professionals, students and interns needed a supportive space to connect, share resources and learn how to navigate a field that can be difficult to break into. The organization is fully volunteer board operated and was created to demystify museum careers, reduce barriers to entry, and build a sense of belonging and peer support within the local cultural sector.
SDEMP is a chapter branch of the National Emerging Museum Professions Network (NEMPN), a non-profit organization which connects emerging museum professional and local chapters across the country. The San Diego chapter is independently run and shaped based on our bylaws, local needs and priorities. NEMPN collaborates with SDEMP to share ideas, best practices and provide partnership opportunities.
Former and current San Diego Emerging Museum Professionals board members: Benjamin Wu (former board member), Antonette Adiova (former board member), Andrea Luna, Frances Naty Go, Michèle Jubilee, Jess Garcia and Megan Boisvert. (SDEMP)
Q: Since its inception, how has the organization seen its impact on the San Diego community?
A: Over time, SDEMP has helped create stronger connections across San Diego’s museum and arts ecosystem and has helped individuals like myself plug into the local art scene. By hosting panels, tours, workshops and networking events, the group has connected emerging professionals with museum staff, highlighted lesser-known cultural spaces and supported people in finding pathways into museum work. We have over 900 members and actively engage around 20 members in each of our programs.
Internally, board members gain skills in leadership, collaboration and advocacy; externally, museums benefit from a more connected and prepared pool of professionals. The ripple effect is a cultural workforce that is more engaged, informed and invested in serving the community.
SDEMP intentionally highlights a wide range of cultural spaces and career paths, from large institutions to lesser-known museums and community sites. Our programs are designed to be accessible to students, job seekers and anyone curious about museum work, making it easier for people to explore the field and see themselves reflected in its many possibilities. Board members like myself are experienced in knowing what it’s like to try to navigate the museum job market and get plugged in, so we use that knowledge to create spaces that feel really relevant and useful to others. It’s also a chance for us to share things we’ve learned along our paths, and become mentors to our community and to each other.
Q: This is obviously a very niche organization, but how does the general public benefit from this group’s activities?
A: While SDEMP focuses on professional development, the San Diego community benefits through stronger, more inclusive museums and accessible programs. By supporting training, mentorship and conversations around accessibility, DEI and community engagement, SDEMP helps cultivate museum professionals who are better equipped to design welcoming, relevant and meaningful experiences for the wider public.
San Diego Emerging Museum Professionals is hosting The San Diego Union-Tribune’s digital creative director, Michael James Rocha, on Feb. 28 for a workshop titled “Media Matters: Engaging Strategies for Museums.” For more information, go to sandiegoemp.org.