The Daily Bulletin Archive

Cynthia Conides, associate professor of history and social studies education, knows a thing or two about museums. For more than a year, she has served as the acting executive director for the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, near Buffalo State College. Conides calls museums “cornerstones that encapsulate the identity of a region” and says a museum’s interior reflects the surrounding community. Her passion is catching on with students, who are showing strong interest in the college’s museum studies curricula.

Kathryn Leacock, a lecturer with the History and Social Studies Education Department, says that while the program is growing, there are still not enough students to meet the demand of cultural institutions seeking Buffalo State interns.

“Museum careers are hot right now,” said Leacock, “and nonprofits know Buffalo State has a good program.”

Leacock, who herself acquired a museum studies minor from Buffalo State in 1999, is the program’s only full-time faculty member along with Conides. She also serves as adviser and internship coordinator—while volunteering as a research associate for the Buffalo Museum of Science.

Through an exchange of personnel in summer 2006, the Historical Society’s former executive director, William Siener, became senior curatorial fellow for Buffalo State’s Monroe Fordham Regional History Center. Conides took Siener’s place. Leacock was working at the Museum of Science when Buffalo State asked her to manage the museum studies program in Conides’s absence.

The college and its neighbor now have a mutually beneficial relationship with a virtually seamless sharing of resources. The Historical Society benefits from Buffalo State’s faculty expertise, and student placement bolsters staffing. Conversely, Buffalo State can access the Historical Society’s vast collection of artifacts and research library materials, including 20,000 books, 2,000 manuscripts, and 200,000 photographs. The two institutions have worked together to bring new collections to the region, conserve collections with the Art Conservation Department, digitize resources, and provide docent training for students.

Students are learning that museum careers offer much more than curator or archive management positions.

“The museum studies track helps students with virtually any job that takes place inside a museum,” said Leacock. “Our students become educators, public relations professionals, accountants, and event managers for places like the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, CEPA Gallery, and the Burchfield-Penney Art Center. They are interning all over the state—even in some of New York City’s finest museums.”

About five students intern each semester at the Historical Society, and a few alumni work there. Currently, students have the added benefit of witnessing Conides help the institution develop a five-year strategic plan, prepare it for reaccreditation, and provide fresh ideas for programming.

“I think my leadership role influences students,” she said. “They’re amazed because they see me doing the things I teach. When they see skills applied in the field, it gives them hope for their future careers.”

The museum studies program offers an undergraduate minor, an advanced certificate, or a master’s degree in history with a museum studies concentration. All students start by taking introductory museum studies classes through the History and Social Studies Education Department; electives may come from many areas, including anthropology, the arts, communication, creative studies, economics, English, history, technology, geography, library research, and music.

“The museum studies program diversifies students and makes them more marketable,” said Leacock. “Even a place like the Hard Rock Café needs someone to manage a collection of guitars. The hands-on experiences give students confidence. The success of the program is really in the success of the students. They go on to do great things.”

“What a glorious opportunity it is for students to be right in the thick of the Museum District,” added Conides. “And at state tuition, too.”