Meet Alex Palma At-Large Member

Meet Alex! Alex is one of our At-Large Members! Where do you work? What is your job title and what do you do?

After working for several years in a few different archives and historic sites, I've recently taken a position working as a Grants Coordinator at the Weitzman School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania. The primary function of this role so far has been working with grants on the post-award side, which means ensuring the grants are executed correctly, that necessary materials are acquired for their execution and that certain things pertaining to the grants are reported to the granting agency.

What have you read lately?

I read quite widely and not always about museums. I've been quite excited to delve into a book I got on Psychoanalysis and Shakespeare... a compilation of essays entitled "The Design Within" arranged by Mel Farber

Before that, I most recently read a book entitled "Guerilla Gardening" by Ellen Miles, which is a book that looks at the practical links between gardening and environmental activism.

Why did you join the Museum Council?

I joined the museum council as a member in 2017 as I was joining the field. It was a great way to learn about what was happening in the field and what discussions were being had. Also, it was a great organization to meet people and learn about the landscape of the museum scene in Philadelphia.

Right before the pandemic started, I joined the board of Museum Council as an At-Large Member. I joined because I felt that I wanted to work to maintain the Museum Council as a historic institution in the city; an institution that's played an important role in binding together those who work at the various museums and cultural sites across Philadelphia.

What are you excited about right now?

I'm not really excited about anything right now. I've recently decided to take some time to prioritize rest and have pivoted to a focus on my family and personal life. It's good to live slow sometimes