“I’m deeply committed to a vision of a museum as an agent for social change, but also for listening to all the different voices in our community about the most difficult issues we face, especially issues that bring together science and society,” Auslander said. “Museums work best when they are safe places where people can respectfully disagree with each other.”

Auslander said the MSU Museum is already committed to this vision. 

The MSU Museum has had a long history of integrating anthropology, folk arts, natural science and history since it opened in 1857, according to the museum’s website. It was the first museum in the state to receive Smithsonian affiliate status and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

Auslander’s vision for the museum is to work more closely on tough issues the world currently faces, like environmental crises, border control, weapons and climate change. He also said he wants to see the museum expand its audience.

"The collections of a museum are extraordinary and really can produce a lot of important academic work, but our audience needs to be much broader than just the ivory tower,” he said.

In particular, Auslander would like to see more engagement with young adults. He said he hopes to help people explore unfamiliar sciences and cultures in new ways through unconventional means.

“We have to look at what is it that young people are interested in," Auslander said. "There are wonderful ways to use new digital technologies to create community. And social media is really useful, not just for spreading information around, but it’s best if it helps create communities.”

Auslander said museums have an important role to play in terms of helping young people develop compassion, empathy, listening and understanding skills across cultural barriers.

“Museums work best when they don’t just say, ‘We are the holders of scientific knowledge, we are the holders of culture, we are going to impose culture on young people,' but we'd rather recognize that museums can help young people become creators of culture, discoverers of science and knowledge,” Auslander said.

Auslander wants to build this community through community-based curation and collaboration with different social and cultural groups in the community. Auslander said he would like to collaborate with Marc Olivier-Wahler, director of the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum. 

“There’s a historical responsibility that a museum has in every single community, every single family, state, and really making them feel this is their museum and it’s a place to engage in scientific and cultural discovery,” Auslander said.