Moline, IL – – Heidi Lung, Director of the Museum Studies Graduate Program at Western Illinois University, has been named one of the recipients of the Iowa Museum Association (IMA) Leadership Award for 2024. The IMA Leadership Award honors exceptional contributions to the museum field through visionary leadership.

“Heidi’s vision, experience, and expertise have greatly benefited Iowa museums and historical societies,” Cynthia Sweet, executive director of the IMA said.

With 29 years of experience in museums and cultural organizations, Lung’s career highlights include her role as a faculty member and director at WIU, where she trains future museum professionals. Before joining WIU in 2022, she was a full-time academic at the University of Iowa, where she led the undergraduate museum certificate program, developed new courses and mentored students from diverse fields such as anthropology, art history and public history. Her dedication to student mentorship and community-engaged projects earned her the Excellence in Teaching and Service Award from the University of Iowa’s Office of the Provost in 2019.

Heidi Lung

At WIU, Lung collaborates extensively with local museums, including the Figge, Putnam, Family Museum, Bix Beiderbecke Museum and German American Heritage Center and Museum, providing students with valuable hands-on experience through internships, assistantships and class projects and eventually into careers.

Lung actively engages with professional networks such as the IMA, allowing students to build resumes while gaining foundational skills. Her service to professional organizations includes roles with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the American Association for State and Local History and the Alliance of American Museums.

She has also been a board member of the Iowa Museum Association since 2016, serving as President for two terms, 2019-2020 and 2021-2022.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award and extend my thanks to my colleagues and students for their unwavering belief in my abilities. This recognition means the world to me,” Lung said.

Lung will be presented with the award Monday, Sept. 23 at the IMA Conference.

For more information on WIU’s Museum Studies program, visit wiu.edu/MuseumStudies.

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