Heather Hodges honored with regional Museum Leadership Award by the Southeastern Museums Conference

Written By Alicia Vial

NEW ORLEANS — The Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) announced this week Heather Hodges, Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC) director of institutional advancement, as the 2025 recipient of the Museum Leadership Award. Established in 1994, the award recognizes mid-career professionals who demonstrate outstanding leadership at their institution, within the profession and in the Southeast region.

“Heather is someone who consistently makes room at the table, not just for those in her immediate circle or institution, but for all who are committed to the work of cultural preservation, storytelling and community engagement,” said HNOC President and CEO Daniel Hammer. “She exemplifies the kind of forward-thinking, compassionate and transformative leadership that this honor was designed to recognize.”

“Heather has reimagined institutional advancement, building bridges between HNOC and broader audiences and fostering equity in access and opportunity, especially for emerging professionals in Louisiana’s museum ecosystem,” said Erin Greenwald, deputy director at HNOC.

Marked by a deep commitment to community engagement, Hodges’ cultural stewardship and inclusive practices are reshaping the museum field across the Southeast and beyond. Before joining HNOC in 2021, she practiced law in New York and Washington, D.C. with three international law firms.  She is an honors graduate of Tulane Law School and held a Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellowship at Georgetown Law School.  An advocate for the traditional, multicultural heritage of Louisiana, she chairs the board of trustees of the American Folklife Center in the U.S. Library of Congress.

Hodges will be celebrated at the 2025 Annual Meeting Awards Luncheon Oct. 22 in Montgomery, AL, which includes a special leadership roundtable discussion with other awardees. HNOC will also be recognized with six SEMC Technology Awards and two Exhibition Awards.

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About the Historic New Orleans Collection:
The Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC) is a nonprofit institution dedicated to preserving the distinctive history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South. Founded in 1966 through the Kemper and Leila Williams Foundation, HNOC operates as a free museum, research center and publisher spanning more than 14 historic buildings in the heart of the French Quarter. For more information visit hnoc.org.

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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