Paleonet: Position announcement: Director, Sternberg Museum of Natural History
Shimada, Kenshu
KSHIMADA at depaul.edu
Tue Dec 30 15:07:25 UTC 2008
Fort Hays State University (Hays, Kansas, USA) is searching for a highly
motivated and innovative Director for its Sternberg Museum of Natural
History.
STERNBERG MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: The Sternberg Museum of Natural
History occupies a completely renovated (completed in 1999), unique
building adjacent to Interstate-70 Highway in Hays, Kansas. Its 101,000
square feet of floor space accommodates both public areas and collection
management space. The collection space houses extensive research
collections representing the disciplines of mammalogy, ornithology,
herpetology, ichthyology, entomology, botany, vertebrate paleontology,
and paleobotany. The total number of specimens in these collections is
in excess of 3 million, and the Museum thus serves as a major research
resource for the academic departments of Biological Sciences and
Geosciences. Public exhibits of the Museum are internationally known
and focus on animals of the Cretaceous time period. These are
supplemented with a program of temporary exhibitions, both leased and
prepared in-house, relating to a broad spectrum of natural history
topics. Educational programming for adults and especially for children
is designed to instill a fascination for plants and animals in their
environment. The new Kansas Wetlands Education Center, located 70 miles
away, at the largest wetland area in the central United States, is a
branch of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History that functions to
educate the public about the importance, history, plant and animal
inhabitants, and conservation of wetlands.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTOR: The Director of the Sternberg Museum
of Natural History reports to the University's Vice President for
Administration and Finance, who reports directly to the University
President. The Director is responsible for leadership and day to day
operations of the Museum. It is preferred, but not required, that the
Director be qualified as the scientific authority for the Museum.
Specific duties include the following: Administer the various Museum
budgets, including State appropriations, grants and contracts, Museum
endowments, Sternberg Store revenue, gate receipts, and any others that
may exist. Plan and participate in fund raising activities of the
Museum. Formulate, implement, monitor, and evaluate strategic and
long-range plans. Establish and implement Museum policy. Recruit,
supervise, and evaluate Museum staff. Approve and oversee plans for
permanent and temporary exhibits, educational programs, and public
service activities of the Museum. Develop and administer plans to
market the Museum to the public and scientific community. Serve as
spokesperson and advocate for the Museum both within and outside the
University. Oversee curation of the collections of the Museum, ensuring
that they are maintained according to acceptable professional standards.
Oversee the functions of the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, the day
to day operations of which are performed under the supervision of a Site
Manager. Conduct and publish scholarly research. Participate in
professional activities designed to promote the scholarly reputations of
the Museum and the University. Provide service to the Museum, the
University, and the community.
QUALIFICATIONS: Minimal qualifications include an earned PhD degree in
one of the academic disciplines represented by research collections in
the Museum, preferably biology or paleontology. Experience in museum
administration is preferred. Exceptional candidates with only an M.S.
degree but having extensive experience in museum administration will be
considered. Applicants should provide evidence of scholarship and must
demonstrate aptitude for administration. Other qualifications include
strong communication skills and the ability to interact with diverse
constituents.
SALARY: Commensurate with qualifications.
APPOINTMENT DATE: May 1, 2009
CONTACT:
Dr. Elmer Finck, Search Committee Chair
Department of Biological Sciences
Fort Hays State University
302A Albertson Hall
Hays, KS 67601
Phone 785-628-4214
Email efinck at fhsu.edu
APPLICATION: Electronic applications are encouraged and must include at
a minimum:
1. Letter of application
2. Curriculum vitae or resume
3. Statement of professional interests and aspirations
4. Copies of representative scholarly work, if available
5. Names, mailing addresses, email addresses, and telephone numbers of
four references. Please do not request letters of recommendation.
Review of applications will begin February 15, 2009. Applications will
be accepted until the position is filled.
Notice of Non-discrimination: Fort Hays State University does not
discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, national origin, age,
disability, Vietnam era veteran status or special disabled veteran
status in its programs and activities. The director of affirmative
action, coordinator of Title IX, Title VI, Section 504 and ADA
regulations, may be contacted at 600 Park Street, Hays, Kansas
67601-4099, 785-628-4033. Additional positions will be posted as they
are approved.
________________________________
Kenshu Shimada, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Environmental Science Program
and Department of Biological Sciences
DePaul University
2325 N. Clifton Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60614, USA
and
Research Associate in Paleontology
Sternberg Museum of Natural History
Fort Hays State University
3000 Sternberg Drive
Hays, Kansas 67601, USA
http://gis.depaul.edu/envirsci/KS/research.htm
http://www.fhsu.edu/sternberg/staff.shtml#paleo
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