Susan Laura Lugo, Candidate for Nominating Committee

Professional Experience:  Territorial Coordinator for Archives, Government of the Virgin Islands, 2008‒present. Part-Time Reference Librarian and Project Archivist, Ralph M. Paiewonsky Library, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, VI, 2002‒2006. Certified Legal Assistant, Dudley, Topper and Feuerzeig, LLP, St. Thomas, VI, 1981‒2008.

Education:  MS (Beta Phi Mu), Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001. BA (magna cum laude), Business Administration, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, VI, 1990.

Professional Activities:  Society of American Archivists:  Member since 2001. Co-Chair, Latin American and Caribbean Cultural Heritage Archives Roundtable, 2008‒2010. Council of State Archivists:  Member since 2008. Board of Directors, 2011‒present. Academy of Certified Archivists:  Certified Archivist, 2008 to present. National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators:  Member, 2006‒present. ARMA International:  Member, 2008‒present. Modern Archives Institute:  Archival Studies Certificate, 2007. International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA):  Member, 2006‒present. Standing Committee, Section on Genealogy and Local History (IFLA-GENLOC), 2009‒present. International Council on Archives:  Member since 2008. Caribbean Branch of International Council on Archives (CARBICA):  Member since 2006. Assistant Secretary, Executive Council, 2010‒present. Association of Caribbean Historians:  Life member. Caribbean Genealogy Library:  Member since 2000. Co-founder, 2000. President, 2005‒2008. Advisor, 2008‒2009. Secretary 2000‒2004. Board of Directors, 2000‒2009.

Presentations: Society of American Archivists: 2010 Session Organizer and Moderator:  “Insular Records for the Unincorporated:  Archiving the Historical Record of U.S. Territories.”  2009 Session Organizer: “Brick by Bricolage:   Sustaining Caribbean Archives in the 21st Century.”  IFLA:  Panelist, 2011 Session, Access to Information Networks in Africa, 77th IFLA General Conference and Assembly, San Juan, Puerto Rico:  “No Absolute Truth:  Is There Open Access in the Caribbean?”  Speaker, 2011 IFLA-GENLOC Satellite Conference, St. Thomas, VI, “CARBICA and the Memory of the Islands Gateway to Archival Networking (MIGAN) Project.”  Speaker, 2008 Joint Session of IFLA-GENLOC and IFLA’s Core Section on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Express (IFLA-FAIFE), 74th IFLA General Conference and Assembly, Quebec City, Quebec, and Speaker, 2008 International Seminar of Genealogy and Local History, National Archives of Brazil, IFLA-FAIFE, and Swedish International Development Agency, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:  “What a Pistarkle! Access to Caribbean Records for Family History Research.”  American Association for State and Local History:  Presenter, 2011 Institute of Museum and Library Services Connecting to Collections Exchange:  “Territorial Top Ten Wrong Assumptions About IMLS Statewide Planning Grants.”

Publications:  ARMA International:  Contributing member to publication:  ARMA International Standards Development Program for Records Center Operations, 3rd edition (2011); Contributing member to publication: ARMA International Standards Development Program for ANSI/ARMA 5-2010 Vital Records (2009-2010)

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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.

To effectively carry out its mandate, the SAA Nominating Committee has a responsibility to look first to the organizational mission of SAA, and then to the Strategic Plan adopted by the Council. Within that framework, the continuing members of Council undergo evaluation by the committee to determine professional and administrative talents, strengths and weaknesses. From this process, a matrix of SAA leadership needs will emerge. Informed by the qualities of returning council members and organizational goals, a template is revealed for the professional profiles and personal characteristics of those who should be recruited to stand for election to office.

But there is another matrix—a less objective set of measurements—that the committee also brings to the decision table. This is the Nominating Committee’s own set of experiences, relationships, networks and professional knowledge. Through this matrix committee members view and distill issues of organizational diversity, recognized scholarship, demonstrated teamwork, and dependable, representational leadership. Candidates with the best of these attributes will be best suited for SAA Council membership and management.

To be sure, there are purposeful balances to be achieved but, above all, in this age of rapidly evolving best practices, professional standards and competitive technology, the Nominating Committee must strive to identify SAA leaders who will be responsive, insightful and willing to innovate even while being steeped in the fundamentals of archival science. SAA’s leaders will not always have the answers needed but the organization’s leadership must be able and willing to orchestrate effectively with others and collaborate to find new solutions that will succeed.

Where will we find the next generation of SAA leaders?  They are everywhere among us.