The Owensboro Museum of Fine Art has hired Jade R. Jenkins as registrar and education assistant as the organization continues expanding its educational outreach across the community and region.
Jenkins, who now lives in Owensboro, grew up in Jessamine County and first came to the city to attend Kentucky Wesleyan College. She graduated in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in art.
During college, Jenkins worked part-time at the museum as a staff assistant from October 2020 through October 2022. In that role, she monitored galleries and assisted with exhibition installation. She said the experience helped shape her decision to pursue work connected to the visual arts.
“It feels quite nice,” Jenkins said. “It kind of came out of nowhere when I got the call back in October. I had worked at the museum from October 2020 until I graduated from Wesleyan in May 2024. I left Owensboro for a little while to try to figure some things out, but when I got the call, it was very flattering and unexpected.”
After graduating from Kentucky Wesleyan, Jenkins pursued opportunities in Tennessee before returning to Owensboro in December 2025 to join the museum in a full-time role.
“When I heard Rebecca had returned and Colin (Davis) had come back, it really felt like a homecoming,” Jenkins said. “It’s also been a nice introduction to a real adult position. I’m still relatively new to the 9-to-5 world after graduating college, but they made the process very easy and seamless for me.”
She said returning to the city where she attended college made the transition even more meaningful.
“At one point, I had Owensboro on my driver’s license because I lived in the dorms,” Jenkins said. “So it really does feel like coming home to be back here and working with these folks again.”
As registrar, Jenkins manages the documentation, care, and safety of the museum’s permanent collection, including acquisitions, loans, and exhibition logistics. The role involves maintaining detailed records, handling legal paperwork, coordinating shipping, and monitoring environmental conditions to ensure long-term preservation of artworks.
Jenkins said the position allows her to combine her academic background in history with her interest in art.
“My main degree is in history, and during my sophomore year I decided to add art as a minor,” Jenkins said. “Rebecca is really great at identifying styles and techniques, but I’m more interested in the story behind a piece — where it traveled from, why the artist created it, and the history connected to it. Being the registrar really lets me do the best of both worlds. I get to work with the history that I love while also working with art and with a collection that has a lot of beautiful pieces.”
In addition to her registrar duties, Jenkins will assist with the museum’s educational programming under the supervision of Director of Education Rebecca Stoen.
The museum emphasizes art education for children through several dedicated spaces, including the Michael E. Horn Family Foundation ArtLand studio, the John and Riley Hess Kaleidoscope Kave interactive video gallery, and the Waymond Morris Young at Art Gallery, which features rotating exhibitions of children’s artwork.
Jenkins said she is especially excited to become more involved with the museum’s youth programs and community outreach efforts.
“We have camps coming up, and when I was in school, I was usually away on vacation during spring break,” Jenkins said. “So it’s nice to finally be here and get to work with the kids during those programs. We also have a lot of community outreach programs that are either already scheduled or in the planning stages. It’s great to be reintegrated into the community and to be part of that work with the museum.”
Stoen said Jenkins’ return has strengthened the museum’s education efforts.
“It feels incredible,” Stoen said. “For the past year, I’ve been handling most of the education programming myself, so it’s really nice to have someone who can step in and take charge when needed.”
Stoen praised Jenkins for her work ethic and ability to quickly adapt in a busy environment.
“Jade is very self-motivated, responsible, and a hard worker,” Stoen said. “She follows directions easily and quickly, and that’s really important here because things can get very busy. That dependability makes a substantial difference, especially when you’re working with kids. She’s very educated, well qualified, and she fits in really well with our team.”
The Owensboro Museum of Fine Art is located at 9th and Frederica streets and is open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
