About the Award The Nancy Hanks Memorial Award for Professional Excellence honors notable accomplishments by a museum professional with less than ten years in the field. The award commemorates the lifelong support by the late Nancy Hanks of cultural endeavors, and in particular her encouragement of young professionals in this arena. Nancy Hanks served eight exceptional years as Chairman of the National Endowment of the Arts, among other accomplishments.
The award recognizes a specific achievement that has benefited either the honoree's home institution or the museum field in general. The award, a certificate, carries a $1,000 stipend to be used in furtherance of the honoree's professional development.
Application for the Nancy Hanks Memorial Award for Professional Excellence must be made by the nominee's director (or by a trustee if the nominee is a director). Museums of all types and sizes are encouraged to nominate a candidate.
Recent Recipient
The 2007 Nancy Hanks Memorial Award for Professional Excellence was presented to Mark A. Ryan, Vice President of Collections and Registration for the Plains Art Museum in Fargo, North Dakota at the Annual Meeting in Chicago.
Read more about Mark A. Ryan.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2008 award.
Past Honorees
2007 Mark A. Ryan
2006 Centennial Honor Roll
2005 Matthew Braun
2004 Allison Chapman
2003 Shannon Beatty
2002 Gwen Heller Tuason
2001 James D. Temmer
2000 Joyce E. Jensen
1999 Marilyn Weiss Cruickshank
1998 David Cart
1997 No recipient
1996 Conrad Froehlich
1995 Mark Tullos
1994 Michael Moore
1993 Alejandro Anreus
1991 Virginia Wagner
1990 Tamar Chotzen
1989 Nancy Anderson
1988 Laurie K. Mercier
1986 Ruth Gebel
1985 Joseph S. Czestochowski
