With three decades of experience in cultural resource management, Meister has helped benefit museums throughout the region. Before joining WCU’s Mountain Heritage Center four years ago, Meister worked in roles including director of education and interpretation at the Atlanta History Center, executive director of the Upcountry History Museum, and president and CEO of the Charlotte Museum of History. She also worked as chief curator of the Jekyll Island Museum in Georgia and as arts coordinator at the Okefenokee Heritage Center in Waycross, Georgia.

In addition, Meister served as SEMC interim director in 2010 and executive director from 1990 to 1997. During five of those years, she simultaneously served as executive director of the Louisiana Association of Museums and helped grow membership and services to enable the organizations to support separate offices.

Meister also has been an adjunct professor teaching courses related to museum studies and cultural resource management at institutions including Southeastern Louisiana University, Georgia College and State University, the University of West Georgia and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is a founding faculty member at SEMC’s annual Jekyll Island Management Institute, a leadership and management training program for museum professionals.