Nelson Mandela Museum,Mthatha, South Africa
Michigan State University Museum, East Lansing, Michigan

Profiles:

U.S. Participants

C. Kurt Dewhurst,Museum Director, Michigan State University Museum

Kurt’s research is shaped by a commitment to undertaking research projects in collaboration with representatives of underserved communities and cultural groups in response to social/community needs. His areas of particular interest include cultural change and continuity in folk arts, material culture, ethnicity, and occupational folk culture. To this end, he was the founder of the Folk Arts Division at the Michigan University State Museum. In addition to his administrative duties, he coordinates a variety of folklife research, collection development, outreach programs, and teaches courses in folklife, material folk culture, and museum studies. He is one of the founding directors of the Festival of Michigan Folklife, is a coordinator of the Great Lakes Folk Festival, and was a coordinator for the 2000 National Folk Festival in East Lansing. Kurt holds a Ph.D. in English/American Studies and an M.A. from Michigan State University.

Marsha MacDowell, Curator of Folk Arts, Michigan State University Museum

Marsha MacDowell is primarily engaged in the documentation and analysis of production, meaning, and use of traditional material culture, especially that of Hmong-Americans, Native Americans, and women; the analysis of the role of museums in contemporary society; and the development of educational resources and public arts policies related to traditional arts. She has been particularly interested in developing research projects in collaboration with representatives of the communities and cultural groups and in being engaged in projects that have a positive impact on identified societal needs. Marsha holds a Ph.D. in Education, an M.F.A, and a B.F.A. from Michigan State University.

Non-U.S. Participants

Khwezi A Mpumlwana, Chief Executive Officer, Nelson Mandela Museum

The Nelson Mandela National Museum opened its doors in 2000 and is considered one of South Africa's most significant heritage institutions; Khwezi has served as CEO since 2001. In the early nineties, he volunteered at South Africa’s first free elections and has also donated his time helping refugees integrate into South African society. These experiences led him to pursue work as a manager and an oral history archivist at the Robben Island Museum in Cape Town, as well as an intern at the Amistad Research Center in New Orleans, LA. Khwezi graduated from the University of the Western Cape Library School with degrees in Library Science and History. He has completed management programs at several institutions including Michigan State University, the Singapore Co-operation program, the Wits Business School and the UCT Business School.