We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Melissa Tedone (she/her) will join the Department of Art Conservation as Assistant Professor and Associate Director of the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation beginning August 1, 2023.
She brings with her many strengths, including a deep knowledge of library and archives conservation, research in “bibliotoxicology” that engages partners from around the globe, an approach to teaching that seeks to provide a variety of pathways to knowledge development, and a strong track record of implementing and evolving initiatives to bring new perspectives to the conservation field. Each of these aspects will bring new contributions to the department and the university and we look forward to growing with her.
Dr. Tedone is looking forward to teaching and mentoring UD students at all levels: undergraduate, masters, and PhD candidates, especially in the areas of book arts, book and paper conservation, library & archives preservation, and history of the book. She is also excited to continue pursuing practical partnerships, outreach, and scholarly research in multicultural education as a model for conservation education, HBCU Library Alliance initiatives including the Library Preservation Internship Program, and the industrialization of the Euro-American book. As Associate Director of WUDPAC, she is motivated to engage with WUDPAC students and faculty across specialties as we shape the program to meet the challenges of this moment in the field and society at large.
As many of you know, Dr. Tedone is currently the Conservator and Lab Head for Library Materials at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. Prior to joining the Winterthur staff in 2015, she was the Library & Archives Conservator at the University Library, Iowa State University of Science and Technology. She currently serves as a board member of the Historically Black Colleges & Universities Library Alliance, a Founding Co-Chair of the Bibliotoxicology Working Group, and a long-time leader in the American Institute for Conservation Book & Paper Group. She earned an M.S.I.S/C.A.S. in Conservation of Library & Archives Materials from the School of Information Studies, University of Texas at Austin, a Ph.D. in Slavic Languages & Literature from Yale University, and a B.A. from Wesleyan University.
Very special thanks to the search committee: Joelle Wickens, Matt Cushman, Joan Irving, Catherine Matsen, Nina Owczarek, and Ken Cohen (Department of History, Director of Museums Studies). And to Susan Behrens, Holly Fasciano, and Danielle Kelley for their logistical support!
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Tedone to the Department of Art Conservation where she will continue leading library and archives conservation education for our first- and second-year WUDPAC Fellows among a myriad of other responsibilities centered on teaching, research, and service.
