I proudly present Michigan State University Museum’s Annual Report for the 2025–2026 academic year. We came home this year, transformed and emboldened. We reopened as a 21st-century university museum built for creative collaborations, interdisciplinary discovery, and imagination. This impactful annual report reflects where the MSU Museum has been and where it is headed.
This was a milestone year. We upgraded building infrastructure, reopened our doors, and welcomed students back in record numbers. For example, more than 600 students applied for just 34 paid internships, proof of how deeply the Museum now shapes student life and experiential learning at MSU. We launched Ascent, our campaign to reimagine our exhibition halls for the years ahead. We also marked 25 years as the State of Michigan’s first Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.
Furthermore, we also advanced new frontiers in innovation with an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)-funded, RFID-enabled audio description system that expands accessibility in our galleries, and with a Digital Surrogates Pipeline developed through the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Digital Accelerator Program. This work brings our collections to life through virtual and augmented reality. Together, these initiatives extend our public programs and scholarly offerings.
This work reflects the Museum’s commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation and defining new possibilities for academic museums in a rapidly changing landscape. By integrating immersive technologies with curation, education, and access, we aim to inspire broad engagement while preserving rigorous scholarship. Our approach emphasizes collaboration with scholars, communities, and partners.
None of this happens alone. Our staff brought dedication. Our students brought creativity and a dedication to learning and discovery. Our donors brought generosity. Our community partners brought trust and collaboration. Together, they built a year defined by growth, accessibility, and bold new ideas that are reshaping the university museum.
The pages that follow share more about this remarkable year. They also introduce the students, faculty, and partners who made it possible.