Education Fellowship
Position Purpose / Summary:
The C.O. Miniger Education Fellow supports the National Museum of the Great Lakes’ mission by delivering engaging, visitor-centered experiences across museum programs, tours, and temporary exhibitions. As part of the Education Team, the Fellow facilitates guided tours and public programs for a wide range of audiences, supports seasonal youth programming, and leads specialized experiences for visiting cruise passengers.
This full-time, 6-month postgraduate fellowship (May–October 2026) is designed for an emerging professional in education, public history, museum studies, anthropology, environmental science, or a related field seeking hands-on experience in public engagement, interpretation, and program delivery within a dynamic museum setting.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Educational Experiences
- (~30%) Lead Great Lakes cruise shore excursions. In 2026, multiple cruise liners will be visiting NMGL. This requires work outside regular hours (early mornings & weekends) to support cruise passenger experiences for shore excursions and planned round-trip excursions from Detroit to the National Museum of the Great Lakes. Travel to Detroit, Michigan, via tour bus is required.
- (~30%) Works as part of the Education Team to help facilitate other educational programs, including leading guided tours of the museum exhibits and historic lake freighter and tugboat, with customized tours for different audiences.
- (~25%) Facilitate our Capt. Scupper’s Summer Kids Club to engage youth in maritime history education (Includes weekend support).
Temporary Exhibitions
- (~15%) Develop and implement educational programming to support the new or forthcoming temporary exhibits: Currents of Change, An Artist at the Waters’ Edge, and others.
Education and Experiences:
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Applicants must have graduated, or be on track to graduate by the end of the fellowship, from a degree program in education, public history, museum studies, anthropology, environmental science, or a related field.
- Employment is contingent on passing a background check.
Working Hours and Environment:
- This is a full-time, 6-month term, salaried position, working 40 hours per week. The schedule must flex to meet the needs of educational experiences, museum programs, and events, including early morning, evening, and weekend hours. Holiday availability may be required. Holidays on which the museum is open, as needed:
- Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day & Veterans Day
- This position involves standing for extended periods, lifting up to 50 lbs, climbing multiple ladders/ramps/stairs, and working outdoors, even in inclement weather.
To apply, submit all requested materials via email to hiring@nmgl.org. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Final deadline for all applications is Thursday, April 2nd, 2026. Only applications with all required materials will be considered.
Required:
- Cover Letter
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- 3 Professional or Academic References
About the National Museum of the Great Lakes: The National Museum of the Great Lakes is an interactive museum dedicated to preserving, sharing, and celebrating the past, present, and future of the Great Lakes story. Featuring fascinating exhibit galleries, rotating temporary exhibits, and two historic vessels—the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and Museum Tug Ohio—we invite visitors to dive into thousands of years of Great Lakes stories. Operated by the Great Lakes Historical Society, the museum also publishes Inland Seas®, a quarterly journal of Great Lakes history.
- Mission: To preserve, share, and celebrate the past, present, and future of the Great Lakes story.
- Core Values Statement: We steward the National Museum of the Great Lakes through our core values of Education, Partnership, Sustainability, Inclusivity, and Leadership.
Vision: To be the gathering place for Great Lakes conversations.