- About Archives
- About SAA
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Professional Experience: Assistant Head, Archives Research Center, Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library, 2014–present. Director and Archivist, Ernest J. Gaines Center, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2012–2014. Archivist and Assistant Director, Ernest J. Gaines Center, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2011–2012.
Education: Master of Science, Archives Management, Simmons College, 2011. Bachelor of Arts, History, Morehouse College, 2009.
Professional Activities: Society of American Archivists (SAA): Member, 2013; Committee on Education, 2014–present, Archivist and Archives of Color Roundtable, Senior Co-Chair, 2013–2014, Junior Co-Chair-elect , 2012–2013; 2014 Harold T. Pinkett Minority Student Scholarship Selection Committee, Chair, 2013 Harold T. Pinkett Minority Student Scholarship Selection Committee, Member; 2013 Annual Conference Programming Committee, Member. American Library Association: Presidential Advisory Committee 2013–present; Association of College and Research Libraries: Appointments Committee, 2014–2015, African American Studies Librarian Section Chair-elect, 2014–present; Rare Book and Manuscript Section Leab Exhibition Award Committee, 2014–present; University Libraries Section Academic Outreach Committee, 2013–present; Rare Book and Manuscript Section 2013 Conference Planning Committee, 2012–2013; African American Studies Librarian Section 2014 Conference Planning Committee, Chair, 2013–2014; African American Studies Librarian Section, Member-at-large, 2013–2014. Black Caucus of the American Library Association: Executive Board Member, 2012–2014; Vice-chair, E.J. Josey Scholarship Committee, 2012–present; Nominations and Election Committee, 2013–2014; Liaison to ALA Diversity Committee, 2014–present.
Publications: “Social Media Outreach: How the Ernest J. Gaines Explores New Platforms,” The Primary Source: Journal of the Society of Mississippi Archivists. “Bridging the Gap: Exploring the Racial Divide in Louisiana,” Library Services for Multicultural Patrons to Encourage Library Use, ed. Carol Smallwood and Kim Becnel, Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2013. “So You Think You Can Write? Programming That Encourages Creativity,” Library Services for Multicultural Patrons to Encourage Library Use, ed. Carol Smallwood and Kim Becnel, Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2013.
Awards: 2012 American Library Association Emerging Leader
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Question posed by Nominating Committee: What will be your criteria for choosing a slate of nominees, and how will those help SAA in its mission?
I will look for candidates that are dedicated to uplifting the archival profession and ensure that we utilize the knowledge of the members of SAA. We need leaders who acknowledge the changing roles of what archivists do and strive to make sure we are promoting our field effectively. The slate of nominees should be advocates for archives and archivists. They should be able to engage the public and bring a wider awareness of the profession to the public. As a profession, we struggle for adequate funding and I would choose a slate that would push for better funding for the Society and our institutions.
SAA strives for diversity in a variety of ways. It is important to choose a slate of nominees that believe in that and have ideas to move the mission forward. SAA also has strategic goals and it is up to our leaders to push those goals to completion. Leadership can be difficult and time consuming. The slate of nominees must be strong and patient.
Archival education is also important, so I would look for a slate of nominees that are interested in supporting the education of current and future archivists. Members who are engaged in making sure archival curriculum remain accurate and support the needs of our student members.