Associate Provost - Director of the Museum of Art

Oklahoma State University - Stillwater, OK

Full-time - Senior

Stillwater, OK

10,001+ employees

Educational Services

About the position

The Associate Provost for the Arts and Director of the Oklahoma State University Museum of Art (OSUMA) is a pivotal role that combines leadership, advocacy, and collaboration to enhance the integration of art within the Oklahoma State University (OSU) system and its surrounding communities. This inaugural position also includes the Marilynn and Carl Thoma Professorship of the Arts, which is a tenure-track, tenured, or career-track role in an academic discipline represented on the OSU-Stillwater campus. The successful candidate will be responsible for fostering transdisciplinary work and research, encouraging student and faculty engagement in the arts, and providing innovative leadership across various divisions and departments within the university. The OSU Museum of Art, located in the downtown historic district of Stillwater, has a rich collection of over 5,000 objects, with strengths in modern and contemporary design, photography, African sculpture, and 20th-century works on paper. The museum's mission is to enhance the educational and research objectives of OSU, reflecting its land-grant tradition of service and community outreach. The Associate Provost will build upon the museum's foundation, solidifying its role as a transdisciplinary space for engaged and experiential learning that meets the needs of students and faculty. In collaboration with the OSU administration and the OSU Foundation, the Associate Provost will lead fundraising initiatives in the arts and help shape a vision for the museum and the arts within the university. This role also involves working with the Executive Director of the McKnight Center to expand artistic experiences that inspire and transform lives. The Associate Provost will oversee the Doel Reed Center in New Mexico and the Prairie Arts Center in Stillwater, ensuring smooth operations and fostering community engagement through various programs and classes. The Associate Provost will provide intellectual leadership, define the artistic quality of the museum, manage fiscal activities, oversee staff and volunteers, and ensure the management of the museum's permanent collections. Responsibilities also include developing and implementing the museum's strategic mission, integrating the arts into curricula across academic disciplines, and maintaining the museum's accreditation with the American Alliance of Museums. The Associate Provost will work closely with the OSU Museum Advisory Board and report on policy implementation while mentoring staff and cultivating an inclusive work environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide innovative leadership and advocacy for the arts across the OSU system.
• Encourage and support transdisciplinary work and research.
• Facilitate student and faculty engagement in the arts.
• Lead fundraising initiatives in the arts and build a vision for the museum.
• Oversee the Doel Reed Center and Prairie Arts Center, ensuring smooth operations.
• Administer the museum's fiscal activity and manage staff and volunteers.
• Develop and implement the strategic mission for the museum.
• Integrate the arts into curricula and instruction across academic disciplines.
• Maintain the museum's accreditation with the American Alliance of Museums.
• Advise the Provost on arts policy, resources, and initiatives.

Requirements

• Three to five years of experience as an administrator at a college or university (e.g., head/chair of department, associate or assistant dean, director or associate director of a museum).
• Advanced degree in art history, museum studies, or a related field.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Deep interest in art and commitment to sharing knowledge with others.
• Commitment to student learning and success.
• Ability to work collaboratively across colleges and the OSU System.
• Experience in fundraising and grant-writing.
• Curatorial experience.

Nice-to-haves

• Five to seven years of experience as an administrator at a college or university (e.g., head/chair of department, associate or assistant dean, director or associate director of a museum).
• Terminal degree in art history, museum studies, or a related field.
• Established track record in fundraising, grant-writing, and donor relations.

Benefits

• Salary commensurate with qualifications.
• Opportunities for professional development and growth.
• Engagement with a vibrant academic community.