Alicia Thomas, curator of museum education and community engagement at the Museum of the Southeast American Indian at UNC Pembroke, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Emerging Museum Professional Award by the North Carolina Museums Council (NCMC).

The award recognizes outstanding early-career professionals with fewer than seven years in the museum field. Thomas, who has worked at the museum for just over three years, said the recognition was both unexpected and meaningful.

“It was a huge surprise,” Thomas said in a press release. “To be recognized by peers across the state who are doing important work in museums is such an honor.”

She noted the award also reflects the museum’s mission to elevate Southeastern American Indian voices.

“Our work is about sharing lived experiences in a first-person voice,” Thomas said in a press release. “These stories are often overlooked, and we don’t take lightly the responsibility to tell them.”

A Pembroke native, Thomas said her passion for museum education and outreach developed after moving to Greensboro, where she worked with the Guilford Native American Association, gaining experience in community programming before returning home to cultural arts.

Her role focuses on connecting the museum with the community through programming, outreach and educational initiatives, including projects that engage tribal communities across the region.

Nancy Chavis Strickland, curator and director of the Museum of the Southeast American Indian, said the award highlights both Thomas’ impact and the importance of the museum’s work.

“This recognition affirms that Alicia’s work is meaningful and resonates with people across the state,” Strickland said in a press release. “She brings creativity, professionalism and strong relationships to everything she does.”