When Dean Oliver [MA '89, Phd '96] was offered a job as senior historian at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, it was an academic's dream come true. "I've always been interested in the fate of veterans. I wanted to do something for our collective military memory."

One of several people with academic backgrounds recently hired by the museum, he says he feels he's part of a mission to turn the place around.

"In the past I think the war museum was a place for cool stuff...planes, tanks, guns. But it wasn't displayed properly. It didn't have much of a presence. There was no story. All this stuff wasn't doing its job which is telling the story of Canada's military history. We're busy changing that."

Ironically, Oliver was offered several academic positions, but happily chose a career outside academia.

As a grad student in history, Oliver says he was as concerned about his future as anyone. "If you are in graduate school and you say you are not worried about academic jobs you're lying," he says.

"There are two attractions for me about the museum. One is it's permanent and secure. The other is it seemed like a job that needed doing."

Oliver photo: Bill Kent