Field Museum Establishes Endowed Legal Fellowship Honoring Cultural Heritage Law Pioneer Dr. Patty Gerstenblith
The Field Museum today announced the creation of the Patty Gerstenblith Legal Fellowship in Art, Museum, and Cultural Heritage Law, a new endowed, two-year fellowship honoring Dr. Patty Gerstenblith’s extraordinary contributions to cultural heritage law and her decades of leadership at DePaul University College of Law’s Center for Art, Museum & Cultural Heritage Law.
Established following Dr. Gerstenblith’s retirement from teaching, the fellowship will support emerging attorneys pursuing careers at the intersection of cultural heritage, repatriation, museum practice, and nonprofit law. The enduring tribute carries forward Dr. Gerstenblith’s longstanding commitment to advancing the responsible stewardship of cultural heritage and mentoring future leaders in the field.
The fellow will work closely with Museum leadership and staff on matters related to cultural heritage stewardship, repatriation, and compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). In addition, the fellowship will provide broad exposure to legal issues common to museums and cultural organizations, including governance, contracts, intellectual property, and nonprofit compliance.
By combining specialized training in cultural heritage law with practical experience across museum operations, the Patty Gerstenblith Legal Fellowship in Art, Museum, and Cultural Heritage Law aims to prepare the next generation of leaders in cultural heritage law to serve museums, Tribes, cultural institutions, research organizations, and nonprofit entities throughout their careers.
Made possible through an endowed gift from longtime supporters of Dr. Gerstenblith, the fellowship will create a lasting legacy that connects her decades of scholarship, teaching, and mentorship to future generations of attorneys working in museums, cultural institutions, and heritage preservation.
Widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading scholars of cultural heritage law, Dr. Gerstenblith has helped shape legal and ethical approaches to the protection of cultural property, repatriation, archaeological heritage, and museum stewardship through her scholarship, teaching, public service, and mentorship.
“Patty Gerstenblith has been a teacher and mentor for so many of us working in cultural heritage law,” said Sarah Ebel, General Counsel of the Field Museum and a former student of Dr. Gerstenblith. “As one of her former students, I know firsthand how profoundly she has shaped this field. This fellowship is a fitting tribute to her legacy and an investment in the next generation of attorneys who will carry this important work forward.”
Applications for the inaugural fellowship position will open on August 3, 2026. Additional information about eligibility requirements and the application process will be available at fieldmuseum.org/careers at that time.