Her Story
About Samantha
Samantha Haney is a museum professional with a passion for collections management, exhibition development, and preserving cultural history. As Registrar at the SAVOY Automobile Museum, she oversees loan agreements, insurance coordination, collection documentation, condition reporting, and donation processing for a growing collection of historically significant automobiles and automobilia. Her attention to detail, organizational expertise, and collaborative approach help ensure the preservation and successful exhibition of valuable museum assets.
Since entering the museum field in 2018, Samantha has built a diverse background spanning guest services, collections support, museum operations, and curatorial projects. Her career progression from customer service and museum operations to registrar responsibilities has provided her with a comprehensive understanding of museum management. She has contributed to exhibition installation, collections cataloging, donor relations, and cross-departmental initiatives, while gaining expertise in collections databases, insurance documentation, and museum best practices.
Driven by a lifelong fascination with museums that began through volunteer work at the Tellus Science Museum, Samantha is especially drawn to the behind-the-scenes work that brings exhibitions to life. She is known for her dependability, adaptability, and commitment to continuous learning, and she takes pride in helping museums create meaningful experiences for visitors while safeguarding the collections entrusted to their care. As the SAVOY Automobile Museum continues to grow, she remains dedicated to advancing innovative, efficient, and sustainable museum practices that support both institutional success and public engagement.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Samantha
01What do you attribute your success to?
I definitely attribute my success to my husband. He has been one of my biggest supporters in all of this and has been by my side through every rejection. I mean, I got in the museum field as guest services, and then I got on as full-time housekeeping, which was more benefits and more pay, and then when I got this position, he was so excited and so happy because I'd been working so hard to get it. My parents are also huge supporters. I've had several good managers that were very good supporters within the museum field. My original manager, Pam, is the one who told me to always apply, no matter what, because the more you apply, the more they'll see your name, and the more they'll realize how serious you are about getting this position. I also have an amazing crew that I work with. Our Director of Curatorial Services has been in the museum system for a long time, so he's a great resource to go to. If I ever need help, I can just be like, hey, I need help, and they're like, let's figure this out together. I have several very good online friends who are also a huge support, and even though they're nowhere near where I live, they're always very happy to hear good news. One of my biggest supporters lives in Canada.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received was from my original manager, Pam, who told me to always apply, no matter what, because the more you apply, the more they'll see your name, and the more they'll realize how serious you are about getting this position. I was rejected probably about 20 to 25 times for other positions within my museum industry before I got this one. At the time when I was applying for them, I did not have the knowledge or the experience to do it, but I was always told, apply anyways, you never know what you might get accepted for. And I'm a good learner on the job - I actually learn better while I'm doing the work because I'm an on-hand learner. Being in the position and learning it that way is the easiest way for me to learn it.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't let the amount of times you are rejected discourage you. I was rejected for different jobs within my museum field, my museum industry, probably about 20 to 25 times for other positions before I got this one. And in my early years, it was very discouraging. But I stuck to it, and I kept applying, and I kept learning how to do different things, and making the connections I needed to make, and that's what led me to being where I am. So definitely don't let it discourage you. At the time when I was applying, I did not have the knowledge or the experience to do it, but I was always told, apply anyways, you never know what you might get accepted for. And I'm a good learner on the job - I actually learn better while I'm doing the work because I'm an on-hand learner.
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