Juilee Decker

Juilee Decker is a Professor in the Department of History within the College of Liberal Arts at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where she also serves as the Program Director of the Museum Studies undergraduate degree program. She co-directs the Cultural Heritage Imaging Lab at RIT in collaboration with Dr. David Messinger from the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science. Previously, she was faculty at Georgetown College in north-central Kentucky from 2004-2014, where she began her scholarly research into museums, public history, and constructions of knowledge.

Dr. Decker's research focuses on the intersection of museum studies, public history, and technology, with particular expertise in cultural heritage imaging, monuments and memorials, and fiber arts activism. She has directed the development of MISHA (Multispectral Imaging System for Historical Artifacts), a low-cost imaging system funded by National Endowment for the Humanities grants, which enables recovery of obscured text on historical documents. Her scholarly work includes revising the cornerstone museum studies text 'Museums in Motion' (4th edition, 2024) and authoring 'Fallen Monuments and Contested Memorials' (2023).

Analysis of Dr. Decker's recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary focus bridging humanities and technology. Her work demonstrates consistent output across multiple formats - books, journal articles, conference proceedings, and exhibitions - with increasing emphasis on technological applications for cultural heritage preservation. The publications show a clear trajectory from theoretical museum studies toward practical applications of imaging technology, reflecting her collaborative work across disciplines.

Dr. Decker actively mentors students through multiple channels, including directing the Museum Studies program, teaching Senior Thesis courses, and supervising research through Vertically Integrated Projects. Her NEH-funded MISHA project provides significant experiential learning opportunities, with numerous undergraduate students participating as research assistants and interns. She has co-curated multiple exhibitions, including 'Co-Crafting Democracy' which was exhibited at the National Women's Hall of Fame.

The Cultural Heritage Imaging Lab she co-directs serves as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, connecting students and faculty across RIT colleges. The lab's work with MISHA represents a significant contribution to making advanced imaging technology accessible to cultural heritage professionals. Dr. Decker's leadership in this area has positioned RIT as a center for innovation in cultural heritage imaging and preservation.