Petrina Jackson
Head of Special Collections and University Archives, Iowa State University
“No matter the challenge, one of the most important things that I have learned from being a leader and observing others lead is that multi-levels of communication engender trust, respect, and buy-in.”
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Head, Special Collections and University Archives, Iowa State University Library, 2016–present.
- Head, Instruction and Outreach, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia, 2008–2016.
- Co-manager, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia, 2014–2015.
- Senior Assistant Archivist, Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University, 2002–2008.
- Adjunct Instructor, Advanced Archives, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Dominican University, Spring 2008.
EDUCATION
- MLIS (Archives Concentration), University of Pittsburgh, 2002.
- MA, English, Iowa State University, 1994.
- BA, English, University of Toledo, 1992.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Society of American Archivists: Member (2002–present); Appointments Committee (2016); Teaching with Primary Sources Pre-Conference Workshop, Co-organizer, held in Cleveland, OH (2015); Reference, Outreach, and Access Section (2002–present); College and University Archives Section (2002–present); Program Committee, 2012 SAA Meeting, San Diego, Co-chair (2012); Mosaic Scholarship Committee, Chair (2009–2012); Publications Board (2005–2008); Archivists and Archives of Color Section (2003–present): Harold T. Pinkett Award Committee, Chair (2006–2007), Archives and Archivists of Color Roundtable, Co-Chair (2004–2007), Newsletter Editor (2004–2005); Theodore Calvin Pease Award Committee (2005).
- American Library Association (2001–Present): 2018 Rare Books and Manuscript Section (RBMS) Conference Program Planning Committee, Chair (2016–present); RBMS Pre-Conference Local Arrangements Committee for Pre-Conference 50th Anniversary, held in Charlottesville, VA (2009); RBMS Pre-Conference Scholarship Award Committee (2006–2007); RBMS Diversity Committee (2005–2007).
- Midwest Conference Archives (2016–present).
- Iowa Historical Records Advisory Board (2016–present).
- Consortium of Iowa Archivists (2016–present).
SELECTED AWARDS
- Archives Leadership Institute, Berea College, Berea, KY, June 19–25, 2016.
- New Attendee Partial Scholarship, RBMS Pre-conference, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 2004.
- Harold T. Pinkett Award, SAA, 2002.
- Spectrum Scholar, ALA, 2001.
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS
- "Archiving in Color: Reflections on the History and Future of the AAC." Archivists and Archives of Color Section Meeting, SAA Annual Meeting, Portland, OR, 2017.
- "Personal and Structural State of 'Inclusive' Archives." SAA Diversity Committee Open Forum, SAA Annual Meeting, Portland, OR, 2017.
- "Propelling Our Way Forward Through Sisterhood: My Peer Mentoring Experience." Midwest Archives Conference, Omaha, NE, 2017.
- "Where Do We Go From Here? The Role of Special Collections in Collecting Social Media Content." Association of College and Research Libraries, Baltimore, MD, 2017.
- "Path to Leadership." ARL/SAA Mosaic Fellows Leadership Forum, SAA Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, 2016.
- "Tales from Under Grounds: Introducing U.Va. First Years to Primary Sources." Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference, Roanoke, VA, 2015.
QUESTION POSED BY NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Council members’ responsibilities include providing collaborative leadership and direction for the Society and its component groups to ensure achievement of SAA’s goals. Please describe how your leadership experience will help you balance engaging the general SAA membership while being responsive to SAA’s strategic goals, including but not limited to the objectives of diversity, inclusion, and transparency.
CANDIDATE'S RESPONSE
No matter the challenge, one of the most important things that I have learned from being a leader and observing others lead is that multi-levels of communication engender trust, respect, and buy-in. I have also learned that the strongest leaders listen and are self-aware and self-reflective. Many describe these as “soft skills,” but I have found in my own work that these are the skills that create the most successful outcomes in cultural heritage institutions. Increasingly, the SAA Council is called on to quickly and effectively respond to the most urgent issues that impact the historical record and the people who steward it. Creating a thoughtful message that exemplifies SAA’s values of advocacy and inclusiveness should include the SAA Council consulting with SAA sections for input to reaffirm and clarify our position before the message goes public.
I embrace lifelong learning and training and know that my openness to pursue and apply professional training has improved my leadership skills and helped me to be a stronger advocate and committed colleague. The SAA Council can play a critical role in creating opportunities for the whole membership to participate in professional development training and workshops, especially related to cultural competency and strategic skills that reflect the social justice issues our world is facing. In an increasingly diverse society, we in the archives profession must not only be able to talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion, but be able to apply it so that it permeates our institutions’ policies, practices, and procedures.
