Alexis Recto, who is pursuing a master’s of library and information science with a specialization in Archival Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), is a 2018 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.
In addition to a strong academic record, Recto has developed a commitment to empowering underserved communities through archival accessibility and advocating for greater diversity in the field. With an interest in accountability, she hopes to conduct research on the disparity of memory between survivors and bystanders of Martial Law during the Marcos administration in the Philippines. In her position at the Skirball Cultural Center Museum in Los Angeles, Recto has helped to create socially-conscious exhibitions such as Future Aleppo, which was exhibited in the summer of 2017 and rendered the hopes and dreams of Syrian refugee Mohammed Qutaish into an artistic installation. Her goals are to contribute to the reestablishment of the Filipino-American Library and possibly the creation of a community archives in Historic Filipinotown in Los Angeles.
Her professor, Dr. Anne Gilliland, considers Recto to be one of her cohort’s top students, stating that she “sparkles with energy and initiative. Her academic work has been consistently top notch.” Additionally, Michele Urton, Recto’s supervisor at the museum, noted that her “dedication and passion are evident as she maintained her full-time work load while pursuing her master’s.”