Museum of the City of New York

Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship in History Education

The Museum of the City of New York fosters understanding of the distinctive nature of urban life in the world’s most influential metropolis. It engages visitors by celebrating, documenting, and interpreting the city’s past, present, and future. The Museum is riding an exciting wave of success and is in the midst of a revitalization of its mission and operations, which centers on the recent renovation and expansion of its historic building, the advancement of the stewardship of its collections, and new and ambitious exhibitions, publications, and public and school programs.
The Museum of the City of New York seeks applications from scholars-in-training who wish to gain valuable hands-on experience in public history and teaching, to fill three Predoctoral Fellowships funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The Andrew W. Mellon Predoctoral Fellows in History Education will enhance and expand educational activities now underway at the Museum’s Frederick A.O. Schwarz Education Center while receiving training in the fields of public history and museum education. The Schwarz Center welcomes over 54,000 students, teachers, and families each year.

The Fellowship is open to advanced (ABD) PhD candidates in fields relating to the collections and programs of the Museum of the City of New York. See below for full eligibility requirements. Three Fellows will be selected to be in residence at the Museum for two days a week for 14 months, July 2019-August 2020, during which time they will be fully integrated into the life of the Museum.

The Fellowship offers extensive experience and training in teaching. Fellows receive three months of focused training in museum pedagogy and observe programs delivered by Museum Educators before beginning to teach. Compensation is $31,827 for a commitment of two days a week at the Museum for 14 months, July 2019 – August 2020. A stipend for eligible relocation is available. Applications are due February 15, 2019.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The Fellows will enhance the content of Schwarz Center programming by incorporating contemporary scholarship and diverse perspectives. In return, Fellows will hone their public engagement skills, benefiting potential future work as professors or public history professionals.

Following a training program led by Museum staff, Fellows will work primarily with the Museum’s flagship fieldtrip programs. Among their responsibilities:

• leading gallery-based tours, classes, and workshops for elementary through high school students, on topics pertaining to New York City that align with and will augment and support approved curricula
• researching topics related to the past, present, and future of New York City

• preparing background material for presentation in student- and teacher-focused programs

• assisting with out-of-school enrichment programs for youth such as New York City History Day, Family and Community Engagement Programs, and Courses for Kids

• preparing lectures and resources for New York City K-12 educators

Eligibility:

The Fellowship is open to all advanced (ABD) PhD candidates in American History, Urban Studies, Art History, Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, Anthropology, and any other fields related to the collections and/or programs of the Museum. Candidates must be currently enrolled in a doctoral program in the United States, have completed their course work, and have an approved proposal for their dissertation. Candidates must be able to work at the Museum two days a week, with some flexibility, from July 2019 through August 2020.

The Museum encourages humanities scholars whose work is interdisciplinary and related to advancing the understanding of the historical and/or contemporary issues surrounding New York, and urbanism more broadly, and who have an interest in material/and or visual culture. Preference will be given to scholars whose work connects to the exhibitions and/or programs at the Museum of the City of New York.

Applicants must have:

• a proposal for their dissertation accepted in a humanities or social science field

• demonstrated research interests (dissertation or otherwise) in one or more of the following areas related to the exhibitions and collections of the Museum:

o Immigration, ethnic studies

o Social activism, labor activism

o LGBTQ history

o Urban planning, urban policy, or urban design strategies

o Urban environmental and/or sustainability studies

o New York art or architecture o Indigenous studies, Native American history

o Sports history

o Any aspect or era of New York City history

• an interest in pursuing these areas in relation to education initiatives for elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as for teachers and the general museum public

• an interest in material and/or visual culture and a commitment to interdisciplinary approaches

• a good rapport working with, or interest in, presenting information to audiences of varied ages and backgrounds
• strong writing and interpersonal communication skills

• an interest in working with the public and sharing nuanced historical information with diverse populations

• flexibility and a commitment to working collaboratively

To Apply:

Applications are due February 15, 2019.

Applications must be submitted by email to Maeve Montalvo, Associate Manager, Education, at mmontalvo@mcny.org and must include the following as attachments:

• Cover letter stating interest in gaining experience in museum education and/or public history (max 1,000 words)

• Statement of current research interests and dissertation topic, including an explanation of how they can support the mission and education programs of the Museum of the City of New York. (max 2,500 words)

• Curriculum Vitae

o Please include your dissertation title, proposal defense date, and, if known, your intended dissertation defense date or year.

• Two confidential letters of referral. If you have experience teaching, one letter should come from someone familiar with your teaching practice. References can email letters to mmontalvo@mcny.org with the Subject: “Mellon Predoctoral Letter of Reference for [Name]” or mail them to Museum of the City of New York, Attn: Maeve Montalvo, 1220 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10029.

The deadline for receipt of the cover letter, statement of research interests, and CV is February 15, 2019. Reference letters must be received by February 22, 2019.

The Museum of the City of New York is committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment with a staff as diverse as New York City and audiences who are curious about learning more about its history and engaging in contemporary urban issues. Our staff members are dedicated to working towards a common goal: creating the most dynamic and inspiring city museum in the world.

The Museum of the City of New York is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender identification, race, ethnicity, marital status, disability, religion, or sexual orientation, and evaluate all candidates based on merit.

Printable version MuseumofCityNY_MellonPreDocFellowship_2019-2020

** Please contact americanstudies@gc.cuny.edu if you would like to speak to an American Studies student who previously completed this fellowship**