[NHCOLL-L:1867] Museum of Northern Arizona - Geol Dept terminated

[janet gillette]

Dear Friends and Supporters:

Saturday, March 15, 2003, Museum of Northern Arizona Board of Trustees
eliminated the Department of Geology and all staff research positions in
paleontology and geology.  The action, affecting 2.5 positions, is effective
May 31, 2003.  Dr. David D. Gillette, Colbert Curator of Paleontology, and
Dr. L. Barry Albright, Curator of Geology and Paleontology, were laid off 3
weeks before the opening of a major exhibit highlighting the work of the
department and celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the MNA.  One half-time,
grant supported position held by Janet Whitmore Gillette will also cease.
The curatorial positions terminated included an endowed chair that fully
funds the Colbert Curator, as well as a staff Curator position partly
underwritten by grants.  Since 1999 the department had been awarded in
excess of  $500,000 in external grants and contracts and an additional
$200,000 was expected in 2003.  
Following the termination of the Geology Department, the Museum Board plans
to invite "Visiting Scholars" to MNA whose "work will be important,
relevant, and can be brought into the museum's exhibit and education
programs."  That's exactly what has been done with outside funding during
the past five years since the reestablishment of the Geology Department at
MNA.  The "Plesiosaur:  Terror of the Cretaceous Sea" exhibit, is a direct
result of the Geology Department's renewed focus on paleontology of the
Colorado Plateau - exactly in line with the Museum's mission. 
Yesterday Dave Gillette contacted Mrs. Margaret Colbert, artist and wife of
the late Dr. Edwin H. Colbert with the sad news.  The Colbert Chair,
established from the Colbert Endowment to honor Ned, had been a dream come
true for the Colberts, who both left indelible stamps on MNA's heritage.
Efforts are currently underway way to protect the Geology Department
research collections, the Colbert library, and existing grants.  

For additional information see Flagstaff Daily Sun articles:
http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=61956
http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=61974

Direct comments to: Museum of Northern Arizona, 3101 N. Fort Valley Rd.,
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
(please forward copies of correspondence to the department)
MNA Interim Director: Bob Baughman   [bbaughman at mna.mus.az.us]
MNA President: Dr. Eugene Hughes  [emhughes at mna.mus.az.us]
Board Chairman: Thomas Knoles  [thomknoles at tmknoles.com]
Board Vice Chair: Beverly Miller
Board Secretary:  Anne O'Brien
Board Treasurer: Ronald Hubert [rhubert at dc.com]
Board Member: Edith Arrowsmith [pwc at uneedspeed.net]
Board Member: James Babbitt [backcountry at infomagic.net]
Board Member: William Clarke
Board Member: Dr. Charles Connell [charles.connell at nau.edu]
Board Member: Susan Golightly [sgolight at msn.com]
Board Member: Michael Hard [mikehard at microsoft.com]
Board Member: Danson Perin 
Board Member: Dr. Miguel Vasquez [miguel.vasquez at nau.edu]

Write letters to the editor of the Arizona Daily Sun, PO Box 1849,
Flagstaff, Arizona 86002
(Editor, Randy Wilson  < rwilson at azdailysun.com
<mailto:rwilson at azdailysun.com> >). 
 
Please distribute this message to other interested parties.
David D. Gillette, Ph.D., Colbert Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology
[dgillette at mna.mus.az.us]
L. Barry Albright, Ph.D., Curator of Geology and Paleontology
[balbright at mna.mus.az.us]
Janet Whitmore Gillette, Associate Collection Manager
[jgillette at mna.mus.az.us]
March 19, 2003