It's Their Job: John Montgomery

Name: John Montgomery

Job: Director of Blackwater Draw Archaeological Site and Museum and Eastern New Mexico University professor

Background: Montgomery completed his Ph.D. in anthropology at the University of Colorado Boulder and went on to take part in field work in Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.

Time on job: 23 years

Q. What does your job entail?

A. I maintain paperwork for both the archaeological site and the museum, including payroll and purchasing supplies. I'm the chief information and financial officer. I also instill philosophy and priorities for annual activities. My job is to try to make sure people hear about and know what's going on at the museum to be able to support it appropriately.

Q. What is a typical day on the job like for you?

A. I retrieve information about the museum and the site. I work both a somewhat public relations position and administrative position. I work on research designs, reports, etc.

Q. Why did you choose this job?

A. I didn't necessarily choose it. Everett Frost, then the graduate dean who later became president at ENMU, asked me to direct the facilities, and because it is a world-renowned name, I took the job.

Q. What type of training, if any, do you need for your job?

A. There are two kinds of training needed; scientific training, which includes displays, artifacts, digs, etc., and people training, which is harder to come by. This includes figuring out the budget and how to get things done on time.

Q. What do you enjoy most about your job?

A. I most enjoy being able to tell others about how much archaeology is left to do and how important it is to the local community.