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Call for Application - Student Ambassador Program

November 12, 2024 David C. Driskell Center for the Visual Arts and Culture of African Americans and the African Diaspora

a woman and a man are discussing about the painting in front of them

The Driskell Center Student Ambassador Program

Position Title: Driskell Center Student Ambassador
Supervisor: JooHee Kim, Graduate Assistant for Community Engagement
Program Objective: The Driskell Center Student Ambassador Program provides a paid opportunity ($500/semester) for University of Maryland undergraduates to lead interactive, close-looking, 30-minute tours of the Driskell Center’s exhibitions for the public. The program seeks to expand student engagement on campus, fostering a deeper connection between the Center and the university community. Ambassadors will serve as representatives of the Center at on-campus events and within their respective student networks. The program runs concurrently with The Driskell Center’s exhibitions, which change every semester. For the spring semester of 2025, three spots are available. The Student Ambassador Program is open to students from all academic backgrounds.

Position Benefits:

As a Driskell Center Student Ambassador, you will:

  • Gain hands-on experience in museum work, public engagement, and tour facilitation.
  • Have the opportunity to represent a prestigious art and research institution on campus.
  • Build connections with curators, staff members, and the broader artistic community.
  • Dedicate 30 hours over the semester to professional development and training opportunities.

Responsibilities and Tasks:

  • Attend ALL orientation and training meetings. See the list below for more details.
  • Develop and lead one interactive, 30-minute tour for the public in April.
  • Assist in public events and programs, promoting the Center, and creating outreach initiatives to build awareness about the Center and its programs.
  • Engage with student and public audiences, fostering conversations around the Center's exhibitions, collections, and public events.

Qualifications:

  • Strong public speaking skills.
  • Interest in art and museum work (preferred but optional not required).
  • Punctuality and reliability are essential.
  • Professional attire is expected during tours and events.
  • A curious mindset with a willingness to learn.

Meeting Schedule: 

Each meeting will be 1 hour (except for the research meeting, which will be scheduled by each student individually). 

  1. Orientation to The Driskell Center
  2. Student Ambassador training
  3. Introduction to the Archive 
  4. On each Student Ambassador’s schedule, they will be invited to do onsite research on the exhibition. The Student Ambassador will be introduced to the archivists beforehand, who, in addition to the Graduate Assistant for Community Engagement, will aid their research.
  5. Dry-run for each student’s tour
  6. Actual tour for the public starting in April, as requested
  7. Final meeting before release

About the Driskell Center:

The Driskell Center is a creative incubator dedicated to a world where Black artists exist at its center. We invite inquiry, experimentation, and dialogue to reexamine histories and shape shared futures.

Application Information:

To apply, please upload the following documents in one PDF, here, by December 2nd. 

  • Resume: Include your anticipated graduation year and any relevant coursework.
  • Spring 2025 Course Schedule: Use the provided sheet, make a copy, and fill it out.
  • Statement of Interest: Write a double-spaced, 12-point, one-page statement explaining your interest in becoming a Driskell Center Student Ambassador.

Candidates selected for an interview will participate in a 15-minute conversation focused on their interests, passions, strengths, and how this role fits into their current commitments.