New director Jacqueline Hunter says ‘sky is the limit’ for African American Museum of Iowa

CEDAR RAPIDS — For Jacqueline Hunter, practically any space can be a classroom.

Hunter has spent the better part of her life connecting people of all ages and backgrounds with opportunities for ongoing education. She’s worked with people in community centers, city parks, coffee shops and college classrooms.

Now, she’s set her sights on Cedar Rapids in her new role as executive director at the African American Museum of Iowa.

“Museums like this are a place where you can extend your learning,” Hunter said. “We’re here to fill in the blanks and make sure we tell a whole and complete story using those pieces of history that sometimes get left out when people talk about the big picture.”

Hunter joined the museum in August as a museum educator and was promoted to executive director last month. She officially assumed the role March 3 and succeeded former director LaNisha Cassell, who led the museum for nine years prior to her October resignation.

As she settles into the new role, Hunter said her focus is on finding new ways to support the museum’s mission to highlight the contributions of African American communities in Iowa and nationwide.

“Every day, we get to pour into the African American experience and show how that is an important part of the American story,” she said. “When it comes to how we do that, the sky is definitely the limit.”

‘Education, community’ drive new director

Hunter’s path to museum leadership began in her youth during a long series of visits to libraries, museums and other sites of educational exploration. Those visits sparked a love of learning that later pushed Hunter toward community education and outreach.

Her career began in Florida, where she oversaw recreational programming for the city of Kissimmee before becoming a teacher at a local high school. In 2018, she moved to Dubuque to oversee the city’s Multicultural Family Center and teach at area colleges.

She left the Multicultural Family Center in 2022 but remained active in the community through teaching and her work with Oh Happy Play, a nonprofit she founded to increase equitable access to age-appropriate toys and recreational materials for area youth.

She started at the African American Museum of Iowa last fall after securing an adjunct teaching position at Kirkwood Community College, where she teaches a course on African American history.

“No matter what I’ve done for the last 30 years, education and community work have always gone hand-in-hand,” Hunter said. “In that way, working at the African American Museum has been a dream come true because I get to do all those things I love.”

Not long after Hunter began working at the museum, Cassell announced her intended departure and the search began for a new executive director. More than 30 applicants tried for the position, from which three finalists were selected.

Museum board president Abena Sankofa Imhotep said Hunter swiftly emerged as a contender because of her extensive background in community outreach and education, and her application was further bolstered by the programs implemented during her tenure as museum educator.

Hunter spearheaded the introduction of monthly “Coffee Conversations” meetings where visitors can gather to discuss museum exhibits and developed the museum’s “Not a Monolith” series geared at exploring the diverse interests and contributions of Black people.

Imhotep said those programs and other qualities outlined in Hunter’s resume and interviews made her an easy and exciting choice to guide the museum into its next chapter.

“We were all just abuzz with all the ideas and programming she’d already shared,” Imhotep said. “Knowing that she has her finger on the pulse of what interests the community was huge for us.”

Political pressure marks first hurdle

Two weeks into her new role, Hunter said her immediate focus is supporting the museum’s efforts despite a rise in political rhetoric looking to minimize the contributions of Black communities in the state of Iowa and nationwide.

Since assuming office, President Donald Trump has made several moves to dismantle or reduce diversity and inclusion programs via threats to revoke federal funding from institutions who engage or support it.

Similar efforts are underway in the GOP-led Iowa Statehouse, where bills meant to reduce equity and inclusion efforts at local governments and schools have gained traction in the ongoing legislative session.

Already, Hunter said, several donors — particularly those from the corporate sector — have expressed concern over the directives and how their support of the museum could affect the availability of federal and state funding.

“We as an organization don’t receive a lot of federal funding, but our funders receive federal funding,” Hunter said. “It’s heartbreaking … but there are people concerned that they will be unable to support some of those organizations that they’ve supported in the past (like AAMI).”

Still, Hunter expressed optimism that — with the help of the broader Cedar Rapids community — the museum will find ways to navigate the political turmoil while continuing on with its mission and programs.

The programs implemented during Hunter’s time as museum educator will continue, and museum staff now are working to expand things even further.

Plans are underway for a new “Freedom School” summer program, for example, which will educate area youth on the basics of civic engagement. Additionally, staff are working to revive the museum’s “Banned Books” book club to combat censorship efforts.

“I’m coming into this (position) during a time of change in our world where, unfortunately, there is probably going to be some suppression of the African American story,” Hunter said. “But we’re committed as ever, if not more, … to do what is within our capacity to share these stories.”

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