Mosaic Scholarship: Dharani Persaud

Dharani Persaud, who is pursuing dual master’s degrees in archival studies and library and information science from the University of British Columbia, is the 2023 recipient of the Mosaic Scholarship given by the Society of American Archivists (SAA). The $5,000 scholarship is given to a student who demonstrates potential for scholastic and personal achievement and who manifests a commitment both to the archival profession and to advancing diversity concerns within it.

After completing her undergraduate studies, Persaud co-created Ro(u)ted By Our Stories, an oral history archives for Indo-Caribbean women and gender-expansive individuals. Working on this project inspired her to pursue academic training in archives. At the University of British Columbia, Persaud co-leads IDEAS, a student group that aims to provide a safe and productive community for Indigenous, Black, and People of Color (IBPOC) students on campus. In this role, she plans programming featuring archives and library professionals and creates workshops to assist students with professional development. In addition to her academic and leadership work, Persaud works as an archival catalog and research assistant at the South Asian Canadian Digital Archive at the University of Fraser Valley, where she is assisting in the early stages of creating an LGBTQIA+ collection and an Indo-Caribbean collection. In her work and education, Persaud seeks to make archives more accessible and representative of people who historically have been excluded or marginalized.

One of Persaud's supporters notes that she "possesses an inquiring and sharp intellect, and compassionate interest in social justice and archival silences. She is consistently thoughtful and generous with her knowledge in support of her peers' learning." Another remarked, "Her work is always thorough and thoughtful, demonstrating excellent critical analysis and a deeply ethical orientation."

First awarded in 2009, the Mosaic Scholarship also provides recipients with a one-year membership in SAA and a complimentary registration to the SAA conference.