Newport Summer School Director
The Victorian Society in America
Newport, Rhode Island
May 30-June 8, 2025
The Victorian Society in America operates three Summer Schools that introduce participants to the architecture, fine art, decorative arts, design, landscapes, and preservation histories of Newport, London, and Chicago, revealing how they reflect the full diversity of nineteenth and early twentieth-century society. Participants enjoy lectures by leading scholars, private tours of historic sites, engaging social experiences, and opportunities to go behind the scenes at museums and galleries. The Schools are open, by written application, to graduate students, academics, museum professionals, architects, designers, and members of the general public. The participants pay a flat tuition fee which is sometimes subsidized through scholarship support.
Each Summer School is led by its own part-time Director. In 2025, the 43rd annual Newport program (May 30 – June 8) will be the last to be led by its founder, the renowned architectural historian Richard Guy Wilson.
The Victorian Society in America is now welcoming letters from eligible individuals expressing their interest in being considered to succeed Prof. Wilson. Ideally, the successful candidate will “shadow” Wilson during the 2025 programs, then lead the program themselves in 2026.
General Responsibilities
The Director reports to the Co-Chairs of the Summer Schools Committee (SSC) of the Victorian Society in America (VSA), which meets at least twice each year. During the committee’s March meeting, participant applications are reviewed and the applicants are admitted or declined. Significant scholarship support is also assigned during this meeting. The Director is not expected to attend these meetings; such attendance is welcomed but cannot be underwritten by the SSC.
The Director works closely with the SSC’s Summer Schools Administrator and with the individual school’s Assistant Director who attends the entire program.
- The Director takes lead responsibility for the overall planning, execution, and social and academic tenor of the Newport Summer School in accordance with the VSA’s mission, strategic goals, and resources.
- In collaboration with the SSC and Assistant Director, the Director is encouraged to assess, and possibly restructure, aspects of the curriculum, as needed.
- The Director leads and participates in the tour throughout every day of the nine-day program.
- The Director liaises with appropriate people in the U.S.
- In collaboration with the SSC, the Director guides and participates in a robust participant recruitment program, promotes the Summer School continuously, and steers potential scholarship donors to the SSC.
Specific Responsibilities (in Chronological Order)
- By January (six months before the program occurs), begin working closely with the Assistant Director on detailed planning of the program’s nine-day timetable. This involves contacting and inviting lecturers, tutors, event hosts, organizations, and venues, as well as scheduling tours. Many of these relationships are longstanding and need only to be reconfirmed; others should be new or evolving.
- Collaborate with the Administrator and Assistant Director to confirm group accommodations, and also to arrange all motorcoach transports required.
- Provide the summary itinerary and welcome letter to the Administrator by March 1 so that they can share it with the newly admitted participants.
- By May 1, update and finalize the booklet containing the program’s details, reading list, and architectural notes, which are emailed to all participants in advance of the program.
- Refine and monitor budgets and expenditures throughout the process. (Most payments to lecturers, host sites, and vendors are delegated to the Administrator or Assistant Director.)
- Provide a welcome and briefing for students on the program’s first day.
- Deliver two to four illustrated lectures during the program.
- Lead selected visits and walking tours during the program.
- Provide informal commentary that recaps and contextualizes content for students while they travel between venues during the program.
- Welcome, introduce, and thank all guest speakers, often contextualizing their comments in relation to the overall course curriculum.
- Provide support and assistance to all program participants, both academic and personal (undertaken in collaboration with the Assistant Director).
- Provide logistical information to participants each day so that they can adhere to the timetable.
- Write letters of thanks to hosts, guest speakers, and contributors.
- Prepare a written report on the program for the SSC on learning outcomes; logistics; feedback from fellow presenters, hosts, and students; budget results, and suggestions for the future.
- Write an article about the program for each autumn edition of the Alumni Newsletter.
- Present one online lecture about an aspect of the Summer School as part of the VSA’s ongoing educational program. In the past, this lecture has sometimes been presented in person, but that is both unlikely and not essential.
Experience and Compensation
- Ph.D. preferred, but equivalent experience considered.
- US$6,000–$7,000 plus program-related expenses.
How to Apply
- By Friday 24 January 2025, please email info@victoriansociety.org with a letter (250–500 words) explaining why you wish to be considered for this position. Please attach your curriculum vitae. The SSC will acknowledge receipt of your email and then update you later on the status of the search process.
The Victorian Society in America is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The organization prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.