Metzger, Lynn Rodeman Endowed Curatorship in Anthropology
The Lynn Rodeman Metzger Endowed Curatorship in Anthropology was established in July 2017 in memory of Dr. Lynn Rodeman Metzger ('73, '77), and in recognition of her passion for the importance of anthropology in the contemporary world. This fund combines The Anthropology Endowment Fund and The Lynn and Ed Metzger Family Endowed Research Assistantship in Anthropology.
Dr. Lynn R. Metzger, noted scholar and researcher, was an avid supporter of The University of Akron, the city of Akron and surrounding communities. A cultural anthropologist, she taught and mentored students at the University for more than 30 years and was instrumental in creating the °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ archeology program, an outreach to community organizations needing cultural resources evaluated.
She was also very active in the community, most notably the Summit County Historical Society and HM Life Opportunities, both organizations where she served as president. Dr. Metzger coauthored two books, ''Joe's Place" and "Canal Fever,'' and edited ''Along the Towpath." She received her undergraduate and master's degrees in history from The University of Akron, and completed her Ph.D. in anthropology at Case Western Reserve University.
The Lynn Rodeman Metzger Endowed Curatorship in Anthropology, along with annual gifts from Drs. James and Vanita Oelschlager, will support a curator at The Oak Native American Museum housed within The Drs. Nicholas and Dorothy Cummings Center for the History of Psychology (CCHP). The curator also will work in partnership with the Department of Anthropology and Classical Studies in the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences. The curator will participate in local anthropology/archeology efforts and/or help provide curatorial and ethnographic research support for anthropological collections housed at the University, such as The Oelschlager Native American Collection, being stewarded at the time this fund was established.
This individual must be able to determine the origin, context and function of individual objects, gauge their authenticity, and place them in their cultural context. The curator then can identify gaps in existing collections, how collections complement or overlap with collections at other museums, and how the collection is best used for exhibit, public education and research.
The appointment for The Lynn Rodeman Metzger Endowed Curatorship in Anthropology will report to the executive director of CCHP, and will work closely with the Department of Anthropology and Classical Studies.
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree and/or background and training in museum management and curation
- Experience with ethnographic collections
- Successful record of exhibit planning and presentation
- Proven ability to work in an interdisciplinary setting
Additionally:
- The Institute for Human Science and Culture curatorship position, currently held by Ms. Francisca Ugalde, will have primary responsibility to manage the Oelschlager Native American Collection from an archival and educational perspective through display, cataloging and preservation.
- The curator will facilitate educational aspects of museum care in the Museum and Archives Certificate program as it is integrated into the Institute for Human Science and Culture. Ms. Ugalde's aptitude in handling the collection has been instrumental as the institute moves forward in implementing future exhibits and hands-on teaching opportunities with °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ students and the community.
- The curator will participate in local anthropology/archeology efforts and/or help provide curatorial and ethnographic research support for anthropological collections housed at the University and CCHP, such as The Oelschlager Native American Collection·and the Galleries for Human Culture.