Sul Ross State University and the Museum of the Big Bend have announced the appointment of John Klingemann, Ph.D., as the new Director of the Museum and Assistant Vice President of Advancement. A Brewster County native and alumnus of Sul Ross, Dr. Klingemann also joins the faculty as a professor in the Department of History.
Dr. Klingemann, an Alpine High School graduate, holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and a master’s degree in history from Sul Ross. He previously worked with the Center for Big Bend Studies and served as the Curator of Public Programs and Exhibits at the Museum of the Big Bend before pursuing his Ph.D. in Latin American History at the University of Arizona. During his doctoral studies, he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to conduct research in Mexico.
Returning to the university after a distinguished tenure at Angelo State University, where he served as a professor of Latin American History, Chair of the History Department, and most recently as Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, Dr. Klingemann brings with him years of experience in both education and museum leadership. At Angelo State, he also directed the Mayer Museum, a 32,000-square-foot institution that showcases the history and culture of the Concho Valley.
“John has an impressive resume, as do many of those who work up here on ‘the hill,’ but it would be disingenuous if I didn’t acknowledge that his connection to Sul Ross and the Big Bend area didn’t play a factor in our choice,” said Sul Ross State University President Carlos Hernandez. “The Museum of the Big Bend is representative of West Texas and our border culture – from history to the natural sciences to art. John knows this place and he knows the people. We are excited about where the MOBB is headed and we’re looking forward to big things.”
Dr. Klingemann expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to return to his roots in Alpine. “I thank the good folks at Sul Ross State University for providing me the opportunity to return home and continue the legacy of the Museum of the Big Bend and the university,” he said. “I look forward to working with everyone on campus and in the community to provide folks in West Texas and beyond a great experience when they visit the museum and campus. I am blessed and humbled to be back in Alpine, Brewster County, and West Texas.”
For more information about the Museum of the Big Bend, visit museumofthebigbend.com.
