Friday, March 08, 2013

Endowed Professor Position in Museum Studies

The University of Missouri-St. Louis seeks applications for the E. Desmond Lee Endowed Professorship in Museum Studies and Community History. The successful candidate will direct the program in Museum Studies, consisting of an interdisciplinary M.A. degree housed in the History Department and a graduate certificate. The program is a collaboration between the Departments of History; Art and Art History; and Anthropology, Sociology, and Languages, and also involves a community partnership with the Missouri History Museum. The candidate will be hired at the associate or full professor level, with the tenure home housed in one of the three collaborating departments. The Professorship is one of 35 Endowed Professorships comprising the Des Lee Collaborative Vision.

Since its establishment in 1997, the Museum Studies program has developed a reputation for excellence that draws candidates from all over the United States and abroad, and ensures a high success rate in placing graduates in museum positions. The program enjoys a strong network of partnerships with the vibrant community of museums and related organizations in the St. Louis area, including the St. Louis Science Center, Saint Louis Art Museum, Museum of Transportation, Missouri Botanical Garden, Laumeier Sculpture Park, and others. The special collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library (est. 1846) and its Art Museum located on the University’s campus offer rich resources for teaching and museum projects. The successful candidate will maintain the excellence of the program and its community partnerships, while developing it in accord with her/his specialty and vision.

The preferred candidate will hold a doctoral degree or terminal degree in a relevant discipline and will have significant practical experience in museum work. In addition, he or she should have a strong record of teaching, academic and/or museum program development, publications and/or exhibitions, and public outreach. The teaching load is two courses per academic year in the museum studies core curriculum. In addition, the successful candidate will also maintain high levels of research and/or creative productivity and community engagement, and will perform University and community service. The program endowment provides a substantial distribution for program support and development; the holder of the professorship will be expected to seek additional support. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The application review process will start November 1, 2012 and continue until the position is filled. The appointment will begin no later than August 15, 2013. A detailed vita, including names and contact information for three references, and a cover letter outlining qualifications and interests should be submitted to Patricia Zahn at dlcv@umsl.edu.

The University of Missouri-St. Louis is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity.

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