Northern Illinois University (NIU) seeks a Director for the Center for Burma Studies.
The NIU Center for Burma Studies was selected by the Burma Studies Group of the Association for Asian Studies in 1986 to be the national Center for Burma Studies. The Center is nonpolitical and does not grant degrees. The Center goal is to receive, preserve, curate, and promote material related to Burmese cultures in an appropriate environment. The Burmese collection is used by researchers and the public who are interested in the country of Burma/Myanmar, its minority cultures and nationalities, and their development.

The Director provides vision and leadership for the NIU Center for Burma Studies. The Director will have oversight of Burmese collections and the bi-annual publication of The Journal of Burma Studies. The Director will have primary responsibility for curation, accession, and promotion of the Burmese collections. The successful candidate will also hold a tenure track or tenured position. In addition to supporting instruction in their home department, the candidate will encourage, support, and promote undergraduate and graduate instruction and research related to the Burmese collections and Burma (Myanmar) in general.

The Director reports to the Vice President of the Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships and will be considered for a tenured appointment in an appropriate department and college related to their research and teaching expertise. The Director will also have a reporting line to the Chair of their home department and should have a strong collaborative relationship with the Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies.

The anticipated start date for this appointment is January 03, 2024.

Position Summary

The Director provides vision and leadership for the NIU Center for Burma Studies. The Director will have oversight of Burmese collections and the bi-annual publication of The Journal of Burma Studies.The Director will have primary responsibility for curation, accession, and promotion of the Burmese collections.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Many of the Director’s duties are required by the charter for the Center for Burma Studies. Duties include:

Center for Burmese Studies Leadership

• Oversees the maintenance and expansion of a comprehensive Burmese studies research library;
• Oversees and cares of the multiple, world-class Burmese collections on campus;
• Identifies and secures resources for improvement of the collections;
• Oversees of the Center budget and financial needs.

Promotes Burmese Collections

• Actively promote the collections on and off campus and online for education and research
• Develops transdisciplinary initiatives and collaborations, outreach, and engagement activities;
• Cultivates sustainable relationships with NIU, international researchers, and the surrounding community;
• Develops a yearly exhibition program in consultation with the other campus museums and galleries, and in collaboration with NIU faculty and staff. Past exhibitions have been held in national and international venues as well as the NIU campus;
• Organizes and hosts the biannual National and International Burma Studies Conferences.
• Oversees the publication of The Journal of Burma Studies and other scholarship related to Burma Studies.

Instruction

• Contributes to instruction at no more than 50% of the normal teaching load of their home department;
• Oversees provision of materials from the collection for use in multiple disciplines (history, geography, art history, anthropology, etc.);
• Oversees experiential education for students enrolled in the Museum Studies Certificate; and
• Provides other student educational support as appropriate.

Applications received after March 20th are welcomed but will be considered as needed.

University AA/EEO statement

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Minimum/Basic Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. or commensurate professional experience to merit appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or higher.
• A minimum of five years of organizational leadership experience or evidence of increasing responsibility within an organization that required decision-making authority.
• Significant experience in the art, history, and material culture of Burma, Burmese minorities, and neighboring regions.
• Demonstrated experience in collection stewardship, creative work, and scholarship.
• Evidence of excellence in teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to communicate in verbal and written forms.
• Excellent organization and administrative skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant professional experience in the museum world. Evidence of increasing responsibility in a leadership position.
• Three years of experience as gallery, museum and/or collection manager or other lead creative person in a professional or academic setting.
• Research level proficiency in the Burmese language and/or languages of minority cultures of Burma.

About Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University's vision is to be an engine for innovation to advance social mobility; promote personal, professional and intellectual growth; and transform the world through research, artistry, teaching and outreach. The mission of Northern Illinois University is to empower students through educational excellence and experiential learning as we pursue knowledge, share our research and artistry, and engage communities for the benefit of the region, state, nation and world.

Connections working at Northern Illinois University