Lynette L. Pohlman Museum Fellowship Application

The estate of Lori A. Jacobson established the Lynette L. Pohlman Student Mentoring Scholarship Fund, which supports the Lynette L. Pohlman Museum Fellowship. A consummate museum professional, including museum curator, educator, strategist and exhibit designer, Lori Jacobson’s career was launched through her undergraduate work with Iowa State’s University Museums; recognizing the importance of that experience, she chose to name the fellowship for her mentor, University Museums Director Lynette Pohlman.

The goal of the fellowship is to provide one-on-one mentoring to selected undergraduates to help them develop the knowledge and specialized skills required for continued education or securing a job in the burgeoning and flourishing museum field.

• Assisting in day-to-day museum and departmental activities, including welcoming and orienting visitors
• Assisting with the planning and installation of exhibitions
• Assisting with special projects that may focus on conservation, publications, or conference/seminar planning
• Assisting with collection management of loaned and permanent collections
• Assisting with care of works of art
• Assisting with research of collections and exhibitions
• Assisting and facilitating education and public programs
• Assisting with the development of exhibition and education materials
• Assisting with program promotion
• Assisting with museum donors, when appropriate
• Assisting with additional tasks and programs as needed

Students selected as Pohlman Fellows work closely with a professional staff mentor who introduces them to the staff, departments, education programs, and functions of the University Museums. Fellows participate in the ongoing work of the museum and its departments, completing projects or a discrete portion of a larger project, and attending a regular seminar with the staff mentor and others. The Fellow and staff mentor will also attend a local or regional professional conference.

One Pohlman Fellow will be selected each year for one academic year or two semesters. Fellows work an average of 10 hours per week. The Fellowship may be renewed for a second year at the discretion of the University Museums’ Director upon the recommendation of the staff mentor. Renewal of the Fellowship will be determined by the end of the semester prior to the final semester of the current Fellowship.

Undergraduate students from any academic major are encouraged to apply. Vacancies are posted on CyHire in the spring semester. Applicants must be enrolled at Iowa State University at the time of application and enrolled at Iowa State throughout the fellowship period. Applicants must be in satisfactory academic status and eligible to work as a student employee of University Museums.

The successful candidate will have:

• A strong interest in art history, history, anthropology or museums
• A demonstrated strong work ethic
• A demonstrated willingness to learn
• Experience working with a diverse public
• The ability to climb ladders and to lift up to 50 pounds
• Sustained endurance to lead campus art tours
• Strong written, oral, visual, and electronic communication skills

Application requirements

• Résumé
• Personal statement (500-1,000 words) describing your academic, personal, and career interests and how they relate to the mission of University Museums
• One letter of recommendation attesting to your academic and/or work experience and work ethic.
• Unofficial academic transcript