>>>>From: Ross Weeks [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
A great many successful university presidents have come from outside the
academic world.  They are skilled at fundraising, instituting "best
practices" in financial management and planning, and/or schmoozing the state
politicians for increased funding.  They would not qualify as members of the
faculty.<<<<

However, there are differences between museums and "typical" businesses, and
these differences must be taken into account by administrators.  Some (by no
means all) administrators try to run their museum like a widget factory, for
example by trying to increase "productivity" while equating it with the few
money-making aspects of the place (admissions and shop sales).  Measuring
curators' and collection managers' quality by how they contribute to sales
and admissions just doesn't work for a major museum!  We need good
businessmen who also are willing/able to learn what makes a museum.  That's
where skepticism toward administrators comes from.

Robin K Panza                         [log in to unmask]
Collection Manager, Section of Birds     ph:  412-622-3255
Carnegie Museum of Natural History       fax: 412-622-8837
4400 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh  PA  15213-4008  USA

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