An interview with Sue Sturtevant, Ed. D.; Executive Director and CEO, Hill-Stead Museum
Could you tell us a little bit about yourself - your education, interests, past work experiences?
My education ranges from having degrees in English and Psycholinguistics as well as a doctorate in Museum Studies. I'm interested in leadership studies, teaching, team development, creativity and arts education. My past work experiences include running a private school, restoring an 1820's mill village, director of a large children's museum in Chicago, and working for 16 years for state government in Santa Fe, New Mexico where I was Director of Statewide Partnerships for the Department of Cultural Affairs.
Who are among your greatest influences (both in education/museum world as well as outside)?
My greatest influences include my family members who always maintain a sense of humor, kindness toward others, a strong sense of family history and a quirky look at the world. In the museum field, I've enjoyed meeting colleagues from all over the country who have given me ways to see differing points of view. I like the writings of Steven Weil, Elaine Gurian, Michael Spock, Ken Brecker (who can ever forget Too Sad to Sing:A Memoir With Postcards?) and Marjorie Schwarzer
How did you become professionally involved in the museum industry and with your institution in particular?
I was in graduate school at The University of Massachusetts Amherst when a professor asked me to be her first doctoral student in a new field being offered at the School of Education. She thought it would be a great opportunity for me to combine my fervent interest in museums with a professional career-I thought it would be a good choice, so I combined a doctoral degree in education with a specialty in history. I thought I'd work in the field of historic preservation or general history, but the only job openings when I graduated were in children's museums where I learned to advocate for the visitor experience and break some of the traditional rules. After many years in the southwest, I recently became Director of the Hill-Stead Museum which is a perfect setting for all my various interests and experiences in art, history, poetry, live music, formal gardens, farmers markets and woodland trails.
What does your work involve?
As Director and CEO, I spend much of my day involved in fundraising, building collaborative relationships and instituting new product development. I oversee all staff functions and enjoy seeing the big picture that involves all our constituents-from board members, volunteers, benefactors and special interest groups to the general public and community members. I often take information from a variety of sources and apply it for the good of the institution.
What is a typical day at work like?
I get up at 6 am and after breakfast do some professional reading, go over my calendar for the day and often proof a grant proposal or paper. Then I'm at work at 9am or off to a meeting in downtown Hartford, only 15 minutes away. Some days are filled with back-to-back meetings and appointments and some days are spent writing personal thank you letters. I like the variety that Hill-Stead has to offer me. Once a week I try to walk the grounds for gathering inspiration for new ideas and to check on the conditions of the ten buildings and 152 acres. I have no typical day except that each day involves answering emails and telephone calls interspersed with fascinating things to think about or problems to solve.
What advice would you give to someone interested pursing a career in your profession?
I always say to get a fully-rounded education with real work experience in the specific area you want to enter. During graduate school, I wrote to the state of Massachusetts and suggested they hire me to research a state park property that had a long history that was going unused by the schools in the area. That gave me a wonderful dissertation topic and at the same time I could be of practical service.
What are the biggest challenges you face in your position?
I inherited a deficit, so it's difficult for me to go backwards to fill in the budget gaps. I'd much rather go forward with vigor! I also think that the general public has no idea what kind of funding it takes to run a museum well without staff burnout. But these challenges are shared by everyone in the field, so I've noticed that colleagues are more willing now to collaborate with job sharing, joint promotional efforts and partnership admission programs. It will be a while before we can get back on track and help create a younger philanthropic generation of museum-goers, but it will happen because museums feed the spirit and we all need some inspiration, community engagement and reflection these days.
What is your favorite part about your job?
I love thinking of new ideas and taking action. I've thought about museum issues for so many years that now I can use my experience, intuition and idealism to motivate me. I love meeting people and telling them the fascinating story of Hill-Stead and its world-class collections and I also like working with staff who care as much as I do about visitors.
What is your institution's mission and how do you feel your job relates to it?
I have created a personal vision with four values that fit with the traditional mission that was already set for the museum. The values are encapsulated in the qualities of quality, respect, collaborative relationships and humor/joy. I try to have my job relate to each quality in some way everyday. I hope the museum becomes internationally acclaimed, as it deserves to be appreciated in new ways for its masterpieces, its innovative programs and its historic landscape.
What does the future hold for you - any exciting plans, developments?
The future is exciting because it's unknown, but the staff and board have created a joint strategic plan that will help take us into the future with new options and positive steps toward creating a self-sustaining institution. I think in five years Hill-Stead Museum will have a new reputation and will take its rightful place as both an art museum and a National Historic Landmark that has meaning for all Americans. We'd like to encourage international visitors, too!
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