John LeGloahec, Candidate for Nominating Committee

Professional Experience: Archives Specialist, National Archives and Records Administration, 2006‒present. Archivist, International Monetary Fund Archives, 2002‒2006. Archivist, Rockefeller Archive Center, 1995‒2002; published several articles on the papers and life of Nelson A. Rockefeller. Archival Consultant: Samuel F. B. Morse National Historic Site on New York State Documentary Heritage Program Grant, February‒October 2000; and Delaware Free Library on New York State Documentary Heritage Program Grant, February‒August 1999.

Education: MLS, University at Albany, 1999. MS, Social Studies Education, C.W. Post, Long Island University, 1991. B.A., American History, University at Albany, 1989.

Professional Activities: Society of American Archivists, 1995‒present: Member, 75th Anniversary Task Force, 2009‒2011; Host Committee Co-chair, 2006 Joint Annual Meeting; Meetings Assistant, 2003 and 2004 Annual Meetings; Tour Coordinator, 2002 Annual Meeting; Program Committee Member, 2001 Annual Meeting; and JAL Tours Coordinator, 1996‒2011. Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC), 1995‒present: Member, Membership Development Committee, 2011‒present; Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee, 2002‒2008; Member-at-Large, Steering Committee, 2001‒2002; Finance Committee, 2001‒present; Meetings Coordinating Committee, 1998‒2008; Program Committee, Spring and Fall 2008 Meetings; Co-chair Local Arrangements Committee, Spring 1998 Meeting. National Archives Assembly, 2006‒present: Vice President/President-Elect, 2010‒present; Treasurer, 2007‒present.

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Question posed by the Nominating Committee: An essential component of the nomination and election process is identification of new leaders within SAA who embody the diversity of the archives profession. Describe what you believe to be the core responsibility of the members of the Nominating Committee, and outline your ideas for identifying the next generation of SAA leaders to ensure that new or distinctive voices and perspectives contribute to the future of the profession.

The ideal candidate that I would look for is an individual who understands the challenging times that are facing the Society and demonstrates the creativity that SAA needs to move our profession forward.  Our profession’s next leaders are there, we need to identify them and bring them along with us.  There is no question that we are in difficult times and the next generation of SAA leadership holds the key to our professional success by working together with our “seasoned” predecessors and our younger colleagues to find new, creative ways to fulfill the goals of the Society.

When I was approached to run for this position, I briefly questioned, “why?”  Do I have the qualities that SAA needs?   I have a deep commitment to SAA, which is based on my appreciation of the support it has lent me in my career and I am eager to find those people who believe in SAA and its potential as much as I do.  If elected to serve on the Nominating Committee, I would strive to find those people who exemplify the changing face of the Society.  Change is not a bad thing and our new leaders need to have energetic points of view who are not afraid to “push the envelope” and help SAA to grow into a more robust organization that can best serve the needs of its membership.