One of my graduate courses required a group project as part of a block about the Learning Design Studio. Our project developed a Google Site for our work. This is a copy of my contributions to the group effort, reformatted for this website. The project starts here.
Museum staff persona: Jennifer Rossi
Photo by David Clow is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
- Gender: Female
- Age: 48
- Lives in Houston.
- Likes exploring wines made from lesser-known varietals or from less prolific regions; listening to live music and visiting little hole-in-the-wall restaurants; reading almost anything but secretly especially enjoys murder mysteries of the type she used to pick up in paperback, but now downloads onto her Kindle. She also volunteers as a Precinct Chair for the Democratic party .
Education and experience
Jennifer has a Bachelor’s degree from Rice University (the Houston university with historical ties to the Lovetts), with a dual major (two degrees obtained at the same time): English Literature, and Latin American Studies. Although her position usually requires a degree in avionics or museum management, she did become interested in this field until after she graduated from school. She has 10 years of experience working in progressively more responsible positions for this museum.
Role and responsibilities
Jennifer is Museum Director at 1940 Air Terminal Museum (a partner museum in our project). She has overall authority for the day-to-day operations in the museum.
She attends board meetings and makes recommendations to them for innovative and creative ideas; supervises the accessioning, cataloging, and storage of museum pieces; supervises employees, including their efforts on museum exhibits; prepares budgets; provides lectures to visiting classes; and manages the staff.
Technical skills
Jennifer uses Microsoft Word and Outlook for communications; PowerPoint for presentations, and Excel for managing budgets. She also has a mobile phone with the usual assortment of apps.
Subject domain skills and knowledge
Jennifer has been highly involved in museum operations and management for a decade. She has exceptional knowledge in aviation history, museum management, staff and project supervision, and financials. She also has experience with accessioning, storing, and processing air museum pieces; and with planning, developing, and implementing museum exhibits.
Motivation and desires
Most immediately, she would like to showcase museum innovation during the annual gala, which is a main fundraiser for the museum. She notes that this year’s theme is Flight 75 to Casablanca , so there is an international bent to it that can be exploited for highlighting any innovation that has international scope.
Goals and expectations
For Jennifer to agree to an initiative in the museum, it must be of high enough quality to properly represent the stature of the museum; aligned with broader museum goals; have a reasonable budget; and be something that will increase the community’s attendance and participation with the museum. As she is ultimately responsible, she requires detailed plans in advance of any project and proof of satisfactory progress during the project.
Obstacles to success
There are no obstacles, only challenges to be overcome!
Unique assets
Jennifer is the only person at this museum who can accept or reject projects and proposals.
Next: Chris Washington