Appointments at Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute (MCI)

I am pleased to announce the arrival of two new staff member at the
Smithsonian's Museum Conservation Institute (MCI): Head of
Conservation Jessica S.  Johnson and Head of Technical Studies Janet
G. Douglas.  In these positions Jessica and Janet will oversee the
MCI program that provides consultation, conservation assistance,
technical studies, and scientific analysis for all of the
Smithsonian museums, collections, and research centers.

Jessica S. Johnson is the Head of Conservation and Senior Objects
Conservator at MCI specializing in archaeological materials.  She
received an M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Arizona
(1986) and a B.Sc. in Archaeological Conservation from the Institute
of Archaeology, University College London (1990) where she is
currently an Honorary Research Associate.  Before coming to MCI, she
worked with the University of Delaware, Institute for Global
Studies, and helped to establish the Iraqi Institute for the
Conservation of Antiquities and Heritage (IICAH) in Erbil, Iraq,
where she worked from 2009-2014.  At IICAH, she served as Program
Director and most recently as the Academic Director.

Jessica is very familiar with the Smithsonian, as she was a senior
conservator at the National Museum of the American Indian from
2000-2009.  In addition to her recent 5-year stint in Iraq, Jessica
has had extensive experience in field conservation working with
archaeologists in Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Cyprus.  She has
developed curricula and taught extensively on conservation in the US
and abroad.

At MCI, Jessica will continue her recent research in environmental
monitoring of an ancient wooden tomb, developing better
understanding of the effects and treatment of salts in
archaeological ceramics, and assessing the presence and effects of
pesticides in Native American artifacts.  Jessica can be reached at
301-238-1218 and johnsonjs<-a t->si< . >edu

Janet G. Douglas is the Head of Technical Studies and Conservation
Scientist at MCI.  She holds an M.A. in Geology/Mineralogy from Bryn
Mawr College (1980).  Before coming to MCI, Janet was a conservation
scientist at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Freer Gallery of
Art's Department of Conservation and Scientific Research from
1985-2014.  She undertook analytical and technical studies on a
variety of inorganic materials relating to Asian art and
archaeology, such as stone, jade, and metal, to provide insight into
provenance, cultural context, and method of manufacture.  Most
recently her research has focused on the study of Khmer stone
sculptures and ancient quarries, as well as archaeological stone
workshop sites, in Cambodia.

She is currently a Partner Investigator on an Australian Research
Council grant, "The Ateliers of Angkor: Sculpture workshops of an
Empire (Cambodia 9th - 13th centuries CE)".  Another area of
interest is the study of the materials, carvings, and surface
treatments of 6th century Chinese Buddhist stone sculpture using
petrography and scanning electron microscopy with
cathodoluminescence analysis.

At MCI, Janet will continue to conduct research on Asian
archaeological materials and works of art while, as the Head of
Technical Studies, assist the curatorial and conservation community
with understanding objects in the Smithsonian's collections.  Janet
can be reached at (301) 238-1238 and douglja<-a t->si< . >edu

Dr. Robert J. Koestler
Director
Smithsonian's Museum Conservation Institute
4210 Silver Hill Road
Suitland MD 20746-2863
301-238-1205
Fax: 301-238-3709


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 28:18
                 Distributed: Saturday, October 4, 2014
                       Message Id: cdl-28-18-001
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