James Ito, BA 2014

Art history has played a part in most of my adult life. I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art as a 19-year-old and my life changed forever. I knew I wanted to work in museums ever since that day. So, I went to the books and read and took every art history and related courses to earn my BA from Utah State and then my MA in art history from Montana State. Dr. Alexa Sand’s work effect and teaching has stuck with me the most to appreciate the art around me and how to ask the right questions regarding their background. That and learning not to write in ‘passive voice’.

I worked as a museum registrar for ten years at the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City where I gained valuable experiences in art inventory, art insurance and shipments, loan agreements, housing and storage, and exhibit object lists. Once I reached my peak in that position, I knew I needed a change. I applied to multiple museums across the country that would match my ambitions and qualifications, and the Museums at Washington & Lee University matched those. My family and I took the plunge and moved cross-country to Virginia where we are today. We have never been happier.

The collection that I am currently steward over ranges from colonial artifacts and artwork involving George Washington, Robert E. Lee, and the Custis family. In my six months of working here, I’ve worked directly with the Library of Congress, Mount Vernon, The Folger Shakespeare Library, and The National Museum of the United States Army. Thank you, Alexa and Utah State University, for getting me started on my art history career. Eleven years doing something you love has a lot of upsides.