For Immediate Release October 11, 2005

For More Information Contact: Diane Brown, 317-274-7711 habrown@iupui.edu

IUPUI Appoints Two New Public Scholars in University-Museum Partnerships

INDIANAPOLIS - Two new IUPUI professors have joined two previously appointed professors as the first faculty members holding joint university-museum appointments under the Public Scholars of Civic Engagement initiative at IUPUI.

Based in the museum studies program, which is part of the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, the Public Scholars program strengthens community ties while educating students.

"Public Scholars amplify and extend the kind of work of many faculty at IUPUI, but what sets them apart is that they are hired with the charge that they work closely with community partners to develop teaching and research projects that contribute to the mission of the institutions and engage students in meaningful ways in those projects," said Liberal Arts Dean Robert White.

The newest Public Scholars are Mario A. Caro, acting assistant professor and Public Scholar of Contemporary Art; and Elee Wood, assistant professor and Public Scholar of Museums, Families, and Learning.

Caro will serve in a joint appointment with the museum studies department and the Herron School of Art and Design. He will soon complete his doctorate degree in visual and cultural studies program from the University of Rochester. Prior to coming to IUPUI, Caro was lecturer of contemporary art theory at Otis College of Art and Design.

He has curated exhibits and presented workshops on Native American and Pacific Rim artists, art and art history. Caro has also written and edited journal articles on the subjects.

In partnership with local area museum and community organizations, Caro will develop projects to train students by involving them in the preservation, interpretation, and promotion of public art.

Wood will serve in a joint appointment with the IU School of Education. She holds a doctorate degree and a master's degree in education from the University of Minnesota.

As a Public Scholar working with The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Wood will infuse coursework for pre-service teachers and other students with projects that provide opportunities to incorporate museum and cultural arts resources into their teaching across the curriculum.

Wood's previous experience includes serving as director of the Minnesota Youth Work Institute; faculty member of the Center for 4-H Youth Development at the University of Minnesota ; and exhibit developer and manager of public programs at the Minnesota Children's Museum.

"We feel very fortunate to have recruited two scholars who are so well-suited to these positions, both in terms of their expertise and their commitment to public scholarship," White said.

"Elee Wood brings experience in the museum field with her background in children's museums and youth program development and evaluation and combines that with research interests in family and object-based learning. "

"Mario Caro's expertise in visual and cultural studies will greatly expand our offerings in the visual arts and curatorial practices," White said. "His commitment to working with indigenous peoples internationally is also a great opportunity for diversifying student learning experiences."

Museum partners are expected to support the Public Scholars program through either salary contributions or other direct and indirect means.

Previously appointed Public Scholars are Larry J. Zimmerman and Matthew Groshek.

Zimmerman is Public Scholar of Native American Representation with a joint appointment with the anthropology and museum studies programs at IUPUI and the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art.

Groshek is the Public Scholar of Exhibit Planning and Design. On the IUPUI campus, he holds a joint appointment with the museum studies department and the Herron School of Art and Design Visual Communication Department.

"Mario and Elee build on the strong hires of Matt Groshek and Larry Zimmerman in 2004, and the synergy among the four public scholars is remarkable," White said. "This is certainly a case where the sum of the parts exceeds the whole."

For additional information: visit the Web site www.iupui.edu/~museum/.

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