四虎影视

Job Overview

Augustana University invites applications for the position of Executive Director of the
Center for Western Studies (CWS)鈥攁 nationally recognized research center, museum, and public humanities hub dedicated to the Northern Plains
and American West.

Founded to 鈥渋mprove the quality of social and cultural life in the Northern Plains鈥� through research, education,
and public engagement, CWS serves as a dynamic intersection of scholarship, community programming, exhibitions, and archives. ()

The Executive Director provides visionary leadership, operational oversight, and strategic advancement of the Center
while serving as a key liaison between the university, board, and broader community.

About the Center for Western
Studies

Located on Augustana鈥檚 campus in Sioux Falls, the Center for Western Studies includes:

• A regional
  research library and archives focused on the Northern Plains
• Signature public programs such as the Dakota Conference and Boe Forum
  on Public Affairs
• A mission-driven commitment to connecting academic scholarship with public understanding and community
  engagement
• A university-affiliated book publisher of monographs and anthologies based on current research
• Art galleries
  and museum exhibitions featuring Native American, regional, and historical works

CWS plays a unique role within the university
and region, serving students, faculty, scholars, and the general public.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Define and execute a long-term vision for CWS programs, collections, and partnerships
• Lead
  strategic planning aligned with university priorities and regional impact
• Serve as liaison to the CWS Board of Directors and
  advisory groups

Fundraising & Advancement

• Act as chief fundraiser, leading annual, major gift, and grant
  efforts
• Build and steward relationships with donors, members, and community stakeholders
• Identify new funding
  opportunities to support programs, collections, and growth

Operations & Administration

• Direct all Center
  operations, including a ~$650,000 budget
• Supervise staff and oversee hiring, evaluation, and development
• Manage
  facilities, collections, exhibitions, and publications

Programs & Public Engagement

• Oversee major conferences,
  lectures, exhibitions, and public events
• Strengthen partnerships with academic departments and regional organizations
• Represent CWS in professional, academic, and public forums

Staff Leadership

• Foster a collaborative, innovative,
  and mission-driven team culture
• Mentor staff, interns, and student employees
• Ensure effective staffing, scheduling, and
  performance management

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant discipline (e.g.,
  history, English, American studies, anthropology, museum or archives administration)
• Minimum of five (5) years of leadership
  experience in a museum, archives, research center, or similar organization
• Demonstrated record of scholarly, curatorial, or
  collections-based work

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven success in fundraising,
  including grants and major gifts
• Teaching experience in higher education
• Experience working with governing boards or
  advisory councils

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinking and organizational
  leadership
• Fundraising and donor engagement expertise
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Financial
  and budget management
• Ability to engage diverse audiences, from academic to public communities
• Experience building
  partnerships across institutions and disciplines

Work Environment

• Primarily
  campus-based in Sioux Falls, SD
• Regular evening and weekend commitments for events and programs
• Occasional physical
  activity (e.g., exhibit setup, lifting up to 50 lbs)

Why Join Augustana University?

• Lead a high-impact cultural and research center with regional and national reach
• Shape programs that connect scholarship with
  public life
• Collaborate in a mission-driven, student-centered academic community
• Contribute to a center that blends
  archives, exhibitions, publishing, and public humanities

Interacting with students, faculty and leadership with different
backgrounds and points of view and a deep appreciation of and respect for academic values and culture must be a top value of the
candidate.

Application Procedure

The position will remain open until filled. Interested applicants
are asked to submit the below application materials via our Career Center Portal. If assistance is needed during the application process,
please reach out to humanresources@augie.edu.

• Letter of
  interest
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Contact information for at least three references

Augustana University
is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Title IX Employer. Applicants must comply with the Immigration Reform and Control Act and may be
required to submit official transcripts upon employment. Finalist candidates must satisfactorily complete a pre-employment background
check.