Scholars Program Coordinator

Job Description:

Position Title: Scholars Program Coordinator

FLSA Classification: Non-exempt

Department: Research, Scholarship and Library

Reports to: Senior Manager of Research and Scholarship

Date Reviewed: May 26, 2026

About Crystal Bridges & The Momentary:

Crystal Bridges is a museum of American art located in Bentonville, Arkansas. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding works that illuminate the American heritage and artistic possibilities. Founded by Alice Walton in 2005, the museum opened in 2011 and is a public, non-profit charitable organization with free admission.

The Momentary is a contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. The Momentary is a venue for the music, art, and food of our time, and a catalyst for creativity and economic vitality. An extension to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary is a ‘living room’ where community gathers to be inspired, connected, and joyful. You belong here: make the most of this moment.

Position Summary:

Through its research programs and services, Crystal Bridges catalyzes the production of new knowledge and understanding, uniting academic research and scholarship with public access and engagement. The Research, Scholarship, and Library team activates communities of learning and provides unequaled access to the museum’s library and archival collections, creating new models for reach and impact in art history, public scholarship, library collection activation, and community engagement.

The Tyson Scholars of American Art program is a residential research and writing-focused fellowship for interdisciplinary scholars expanding the boundaries of investigation into American art from any time period. Now in its fourteenth year, the Tyson Scholars program has supported the research and scholarship of more than ninety fellows through academic-year fellowship awards and the Tyson Think Tank, a short-term collaborative fellowship established in 2021.

Reporting to the Senior Manager of Research and Scholarship, the Scholars Program Coordinator is responsible for providing administrative support for the management of the Tyson Scholars program at Crystal Bridges and serves as a host and point-person for the scholars during their time in residence. Beginning in 2026, the program will expand and begin to include more public-facing initiatives. With this growth, the Scholars Program Coordinator will assist with and help to develop new protocols for additional facets of the program. The ideal candidate for this role is highly service- and detail-oriented and possesses creative problem-solving skills. The ability to work proactively and manage multiple and competing priorities is essential.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Provide administrative support for the application and selection processes for Tyson initiatives
• Serve as on-site liaison for Tyson Scholars, ensuring maximum comfort and community integration
• Manage arrival and departure of fellows by coordinating housing check-ins and orientations, scheduling tours, ensuring the apartment is stocked with essential supplies, and providing other support
• With guidance from the Senior Manager, coordinate and provide logistical support for the Tyson Think Tank and other Tyson Scholar public, academic, and partner programs
• Work in partnership with the Research and Scholarship team and other stakeholders at Crystal Bridges to plan, organize, and facilitate the fellowship program. This includes collaborating cross-departmentally with Development, Art Management, Facilities, People Services, Marketing and Communications, and Learning and Engagement
• Administer Tyson program alumni management software and alumni communications

Additional Responsibilities

• Maintain statistics for the Tyson Scholars program
• In collaboration with the Technical Services Librarian, ensure that publications by Tyson Scholars are represented in the Crystal Bridges Library collection
• Process stipend payments and invoices
• Provide additional administrative support to the Tyson Scholars program, including scheduling meetings, coordinating field trips, and connecting scholars with museum staff
• Other related duties as assigned by the Senior Manager

Qualifications and Skills:

• BA or equivalent experience
• 1-3 years of work experience coordinating or leading programs and projects, preferably in a museum, library, or academic setting
• Demonstrated organization skills with rigorous attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with various deadlines
• Ability to work and complete tasks individually as well as work collaboratively as part of a team
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and demonstrated ability to maintain stakeholder relationships
• Ability to maintain confidentiality

Preferred Skills and Abilities:

• BA in art history, American history, or a related discipline
• Curiosity about American art and how scholars are telling new stories within the discipline 

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: The position requires verbal and written conversation with others, sitting, standing, walking, bending, climbing, reaching, strenuous lifting/moving objects up to 25 pounds and use of hands to manipulate, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. Vision abilities required by the job include close vision and color perception
• Work environment: Work will be performed in an office environment, museum galleries, art studios, outdoors on the trails, and in communities served. Some evening and weekend hours are required. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the Museum work environment is usually low to moderate.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States.

Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate