The RIT-Genesee Country Village & Museum Partnership
Presenter: Juilee Decker, Ph.D. | Elizabeth 'Becky' Wehle | Muhammet Kesgin, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Museum Studies Program, College of Liberal Arts | President and CEO, Genesee Country Village & Museum | Assistant Professor, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Saunders College of Business
Webinar Date: 03-13-2019

The RIT-Genesee Country Village & Museum Partnership

This partnership is the only one of its kind in the United States, where a museum with historic village and nature trails works in partnership with a university community across many disciplines (including museum studies, digital humanities and social sciences, new media design, hospitality and tourism, marketing and business, engineering solutions development, and communication/journalism).

Juilee Decker, Ph.D.
Juilee Decker, Ph.D. / Associate Professor, Museum Studies Program, College of Liberal Arts

Trained as an art historian, Dr. Decker's research and scholarship are at the intersection of museum studies, public history, and public art. She has a passion for objects and seeks ways to facilitate dialogues between communities and the objects, spaces, places, and practices that they hold dear.

Elizabeth 'Becky' Wehle
Elizabeth 'Becky' Wehle / President and CEO, Genesee Country Village & Museum

Becky Wehle is President & CEO of Genesee Country Village & Museum, the largest living history museum in New York State, located 25 miles southwest of Rochester. The Museum features 68 historic structures from the 19th century, moved from locations throughout Western New York, a gallery of sporting art, and a nature center and attracts more than 98,000 visitors each year. She manages 45 year-round staff and over 150 seasonal staff and a budget of over $4 million. Prior to joining GCV&M in July 2016, Becky worked in the University of Rochester's advancement office for over 15 years, most recently as the Executive Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of Allendale Columbia School and the Museum Association of New York and was a Board member at GCV&M for 18 years before joining the staff.

Muhammet Kesgin, Ph.D.
Muhammet Kesgin, Ph.D. / Assistant Professor, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Saunders College of Business

Dr. Kesgin's professional background in higher education and the industry spans the globe. He received his B.S. from Akdeniz University in Turkey and Ph.D. from Coventry University in the United Kingdom. He is an experienced hospitality professional, having worked in four countries before moving into higher education as a Lecturer at Akdeniz University in Turkey. He was an Adjunct Lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University in the United Kingdom before joining RIT in 2013.