Associate Provost for the Arts,
Director,Oklahoma State University Museum of Art and Marilynn and Carl Thoma Professorof the Arts
Stillwater, Oklahoma

The Provost and Senior Vice President of Oklahoma State University (OSU) invites nominations and applications for the inaugural Associate Provost for the Arts and Director of the OSU Museum of Art (“Associate Provost”). The successful candidate will also hold the inaugural Marilynn and Carl Thoma Professorship of the Arts, along with tenure-track, tenured, or career-track rank in an academic discipline represented on the OSU-Stillwater campus, and will provide innovative leadership, advocacy, and collaboration to enrich and integrate art throughout OSU System and surrounding communities. Additionally, the Associate Provost will provide leadership, reaching across divisions, departments, and colleges to encourage and support transdisciplinary work and research and to facilitate student and faculty engagement in the arts. This individual will have commensurate authority for performing the duties of the office as determined by the Provost and Senior Vice President.

Oklahoma State University has a rich history of institutional success and growth. A land-grant institution with more than 35,000 students across a five-campus system, OSU has graduated more than 264,000 students to serve the state of Oklahoma, the nation and the world. President Kayse Shrum and members of OSU’s transformational leadership team have taken steps to advance the institution further with the development of a strategy for the next era of OSU. The university system strategy has a focus on OSU becoming the nation’s preeminent land-grant institution.

Located in the downtown historic district in Stillwater, the OSU Museum of Art (OSUMA) officially opened its doors in January 2014. Over the past 10 years the museum’s collection has grown to more than 5,000 objects with key strengths in modern and contemporary design, photography, African sculpture, and 20^th century works on paper. The museum’s mission enhances the educational and research mission of Oklahoma State University, which is defined by its land-grant tradition of service and community outreach. Over the past decade, the OSUMA has facilitated nearly 100 exhibitions, hosted multiple visiting artists, and actively collaborated on exhibitions and academic programming with faculty and students from across the university and in the greater Stillwater community. The successful Associate Provost will build on this foundation and solidify the museum’s key role as a transdisciplinary space of engaged and experiential learning and research that meets student and faculty needs across the university.

Working with Provost and Senior Vice President Jeanette Mendez, the OSU administration, and OSU Foundation leadership, the Associate Provost will lead and support fundraising initiatives in the arts across the university and help build a vision for the museum and for the arts within the university that is vital to students, the academic community, Oklahoma, and south-central US. The Associate Provost will also collaborate with the Executive Director of OSU’s renowned McKnight Center to expand experiences that inspire and transform lives through artistic excellence, shared creative experiences, and impactful learning opportunities. 

In addition to the abovementioned responsibilities, the Associate Provost oversees the Doel Reed Center and Stillwater’s Prairie Arts Center and works closely with staff and faculty to ensure the smooth operation of each of these OSU facilities. The Doel Reed Center (DRC) is an OSU facility in Talpa, New Mexico, offering multidisciplinary programs in teaching, research and outreach focused on the arts and culture of the Southwest United States to students, alumni, friends and the communities of northern New Mexico. The Doel Reed Advisory Board supports the activities at the DRC and will meet regularly with the Associate Provost. The Museum is the steward of the Doel Reed Collection, housed both at the DRC in New Mexico and at the OSUMA. The Prairie Arts Center, located near the OSUMA in Stillwater, is operated as an OSU-City of Stillwater partnership and supports arts in the community and at the University by offering non-credit classes for children and adults, collaborative spaces, support for the museum, professional engagement opportunities for OSU students, and many opportunities for creative activities across the disciplines.

The Associate Provost will provide the intellectual leadership and define the artistic quality of the museum; administer the museum’s fiscal activity; provide managerial oversight of the museum staff and volunteers; direct and coordinate day-to-day operations; and is ultimately responsible for the management and caretaking of the permanent collections. Additional responsibilities include developing and implementing the strategic mission for the museum; working with key university departments and councils to advance the arts and create a model of best practice in arts education and community outreach; and integrating the arts into curricula and instruction across academic disciplines and thereby making it part of the daily lives and educational experience of OSU students. The Associate Provost will provide administrative oversight for the maintenance of the museum’s accreditation with the American Alliance of Museums, and will advise the Provost on arts policy, resources, and initiatives and actively promote the arts across the university and in the curriculum as part of the implementation of OSU’s Strategy.

In exercising these duties, the Associate Provost will work closely with their staff and is advised by the OSU Museum Advisory Board. The Associate Provost will report on the implementation of policies and plans to the Board, while participating in a leadership capacity. The Associate Provost or their delegate also provides oversight of the OSU campus sculpture collection and serves on campus sculpture committee.

The Associate Provost will also support and mentor the professional development of the staff and cultivate a healthy and inclusive work environment. The staff of the museum currently includes eight (8) full-time employees: Education and Visitor Services Manager; Curator of Education; Marketing and Communications Specialist; Coordinator of Fiscal Operations; Preparator; Registrar and Collections Manager; Administrative Associate; and Associate Director, Museum Collection and Chief Registrar. The Associate Provost will have the opportunity to realign and/or expand staffing to support the mission and needs of the OSUMA, the DRC, and the Prairie Arts Center.

Required Qualifications:

Three – five years of experience as an administrator at a college or university (head/chair of department or program; associate or assistant dean; director or associate director of a museum).
Advanced degree in art history, museum studies, or related degree.
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 fund raising and grant-writing.
Curatorial experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

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

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications.

Beginning Date: As soon as possible following acceptance of position.

Application: The Division of Academic Affairs has astrong commitment to the well-being and development of all populations. While applicationswill be accepted until a successful candidate has been identified, interestedparties are encouraged to submit their materials on or before Monday, April 15,2024, to receive optimal consideration. Applications (letter of interest,curriculum vitae, and the names, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers offive references) must be submitted online at Jobs.okstate.edu, Req17475. Nominationsfor and/or questions about this position should be directed to provost@okstate.edu.

Oklahoma State University, as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Oklahoma State University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate based on race, religion, age, sex, color, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, or veteran status with regard to employment, educational programs and activities, and/or admissions. For more information, visit eeo.okstate.edu.