Museums: Jobs Landed

My job seeks breakthrough opportunities for connecting community and economic development efforts throughout metro-Detroit with one of the world's premier art museums. The DIA is a magical place and home to creative works and inspiring spaces that are invaluable to the region. My work aims to connect Detroit's revitalization efforts with the DIA and the broader arts and culture community in innovative and creative ways. It's an honor to be one of the Detroit Revitalization Fellows, which is group of professionals working throughout the region to accelerate Detroit's revitalization efforts across governmental, nonprofit and community and economic development partners.

I just recently joined the team at the Detroit Historical Society as a Major Gifts Officer. In my new position, I am responsible for the effective identification, cultivation, solicitation and management of the Society's individual donor base. Prior to coming to the Society, I served as a Major Gifts Officer for Children's Hospital of Michigan where I worked with team members to reach 100 percent of the hospital's annual goal and develop prospects for major donations. Before that, I worked in a similar capacity at the Oakwood Hospital Foundation where I led the successful Southshore Hospital Campaign to raise $7.5 million. The money was used to build a new hospital. My bachelor's degree is in sports medicine from Eastern Michigan University. I also attended the Southern Wayne Regional Chamber of Commerce Leadership 21 course. I am currently involved in my community as a member of the Advisory Board of Education for the Gibraltar School District.

I am a native Detroiter, who travels often but loves Detroit dearly and will probably never stray.   
 
At the MAAH, I am the Human Resources Manager. I am directly responsible for all Human Resources, Payroll, and Benefit administration.  I am the go to  person on staff  for all  questions, concerns, or issues as they relate to the areas I  mentioned above as well as  compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, employee  relations,  training, development, performance management, recruiting, staffing, etc.  I’ve been in HR for 6 years, and working in this capacity is the field I went to college for. My current position gives me the opportunity to obtain hands on experience working in the total HR arena, as it is my responsibility to develop, design, and execute the MAAH’s HR Strategy.
 
Working at the MAAH is a very unique experience.  The environment is very flexible and close knit The  thing that I love the most is that  there is always something going on at the MAAH that the  staff is  welcomed to attend.

In addition to getting my Master's at Wayne State University, I also received a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Development at Oakland University.

As a two person communications team, I work in all aspects of Edsel & Eleanor Ford House’s marketing, public relations and communications efforts. I also write and implement communications and marketing campaigns using both social and traditional media. Writing and research is a main component of my job, I spend 70 percent of my time writing and 30 percent researching. Even though writing is a main component of my job, I truly have a passion for event planning. I enjoy participating in all aspects of planning the event. It’s fascinating.  

In my profession, I have the opportunity and honor to attend events representing Edsel & Eleanor Ford House. It is such a great experience to meet an array of people I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to connect with. I enjoy hearing their life stories and how Edsel & Eleanor Ford House has made an impact on their life.

Edsel & Eleanor Ford House is located at 1100 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores.  Since 1978, Ford House has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors to share in Eleanor Ford’s vision of preserving the estate for future generations to enjoy through interpretive tours, family activities, lectures, exhibits and gardens and grounds events.  For more information, visit www.fordhouse.org or call 313.884.4222.

I am the Curator of Community History at the Arab American National Museum (AANM), a project of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), in Dearborn, MI.  My responsibilities include researching, planning and implementing humanities programming and exhibitions. I joined the museum staff fresh out of graduate school in May 2005, just as the AANM was opening its doors to the public.   While I never received a formal education in museum studies, I was compelled to join the AANM staff upon learning of the museum and its mission.  As a third generation Arab American, I realized the importance of this institution.  My position at the AANM permits me to simultaneously contribute to the public’s understanding of Arab American culture and history while exploring my own native roots and traditions.  I am proud to say I work at ACCESS, and I am continuously inspired by the work of my colleagues throughout the organization.