Washington College, Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience
Assistant Director for Communications and Outreach
Institution Type: | College / University |
Location: | Maryland, United States |
Position: | Administrator, Other Professional |
Washington College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience seeks qualified applicants for the position of Assistant Director for Communications and Outreach.
(Please note that the Starr Center is also hiring an Assistant Director for Programs and Experiential Learning; that job listing is here.)
The interdisciplinary Starr Center is dedicated to fostering innovative approaches to American history and culture at the local and national levels. Established in 2000, the Center promotes excellence in the study of American history, politics, and culture; builds bridges among diverse academic disciplines and with other institutions; engages with a broad range of public constituencies; and creates special on- and off-campus opportunities for Washington College students and faculty. Our current programs include a major partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture; extensive work in oral history; a national book award; visiting fellowships; and a myriad of hands-on opportunities in public history for undergraduates.
This Assistant Director will act as the Starr Center’s chief communications and public relations officer, managing its digital content, printed materials, photos/videos, press releases and social media presence. They will proactively develop (write, assign, edit, produce) original content about the Center, its activities, staff, students, fellows, and alumni for diverse platforms, both print and digital. They will oversee and manage the Starr Center’s website and its presence on other parts of the College’s website, regularly adding, updating, and maintaining content. With active participation and assistance from student interns, they will expand the Starr Center’s social media presence. In collaboration with other staff, they will work on material that informs prospective Washington College students about the Center’s programs.
The staff member will be responsible for maintaining complete and well-organized archives (physical and digital) of photographs, audiovisual and print materials generated by the Center.
Working closely with the Director and other staff, this Assistant Director will also oversee and manage the Starr Center’s two visiting fellowships (Patrick Henry Writing Fellowship and Hodson-Brown Fellowship), helping to administer the annual application and selection processes and seeking opportunities for the visiting fellows to engage with the broader community.
The person will play a key role in maintaining the Starr Center’s relationships with other institutions, especially via our co-sponsorship of the annual George Washington Prize (with George Washington’s Mount Vernon and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History), and the Explore America Summer Internship program, which involves partnerships with a range of museums, libraries, and other nonprofits. The staff member will coordinate with our partner institutions and other Starr Center staff on administration, communications, and event planning.
A bachelor’s degree and excellent writing skills are required, as are strong knowledge of and interest in American history. Design skills and proficiency at digital media/communications are strongly sought. Qualified applicants will have significant professional experience in one or more of the following: higher education, public history, public humanities, publishing/media, museums, nonprofit management.
Washington College, with 1,450 undergraduates, is a liberal-arts institution that emphasizes close student/faculty collaboration and integrative learning. Established in 1782, it is the nation’s 10th-oldest college and the first one chartered in the newly independent United States, as well as America’s first fully secular college. George Washington was among the institution’s original trustees and major donors.
To Apply:
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information of three professional references through our online portal. Work samples (publications, press releases, links to digital work) are also encouraged. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
Washington College is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse cultural environment, and encourages applications from women, people of color, disabled persons, members of the LGBTQ community, and veterans.
Contact: |
Juliet Kaczmarczyk, Center Coordinator, jkaczmarczyk3@washcoll.edu |
Website: | https://www.washcoll.edu/learn-by-doing/starr/ |
Primary Category: | American History / Studies |
Secondary Categories: | African American History / Studies Cultural History / Studies Digital Humanities Humanities Local History Public History |
Posting Date: | 10/29/2020 |
Closing Date | 01/27/2021 |