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BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT
I am currently the curator of California Ethnic & Multicultural Archives (CEMA), California, History of the American West at UC Santa Barbara Library (2021). I have also held positions as university archivist at Penn State University Libraries (2018–2021) and as a processing archivist at UCLA Library (2016–2018). I received a master of library and information science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and master of arts in teaching and a bachelor of arts in US history from the University of San Francisco. Prior to receiving my MLIS, I was a middle and high school teacher in the Bay Area.
I am a current fellow in the Association of Research Libraries’ Leadership and Career Development Program, which aims to prepare mid-career librarians from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups to take on leadership roles in their careers and in the profession at large. Through my position at Penn State, I became an active participant in Project STAND as a member of the Collections Features Committee (2019–present). I have also served in a number of roles within the Society of American Archivists, including steering committee member of the College and University Archives Section (2020–2022), member of the 2020 Annual Meeting Program Committee, and co-chair of the Archivists and Archives of Color Section (2016–2018). I was also the recipient of the Harold T. Pinkett Minority Student Award in 2013.
I have recently participated in a number of conference presentations and panels, including a lightning talk titled, “Preserving Community Experiences in a Pandemic,” at the 2020 Pennsylvania Library Association Conference; invited commentary for the panel, “Diverse Archives,” at the 2020 Western History Association Conference; and a co-presentation with Courtney Dean, Sandy Rodriguez, Ruth Tillman, and Amy Wickner, “The State of Temporary Labor: Trends and Themes from SAA’s Issues and Advocacy Section + IMLS-Funded Research,” at Digital Library Federation (DLF) Forum 2019.
DIVERSITY STATEMENT
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is an active process and effort that focuses on representation, acknowledgement and reparation of barriers, and an expectation of support and valuing of experiences and backgrounds. We must look at DEI from an intersectional lens in both our professional workforce and the work we engage in as archives professionals. I am a cis-Latina woman with graduate degrees; I carry my cultural background, experiences, and privileges every day when I engage with colleagues and audiences. I recognize, however, that everybody else comes with their own experiences and knowledge that can potentially deepen my own.
Working in a profession and an institution that is predominantly white, I have found myself adapting to the existing structural norms. Throughout my education and career, I have also looked for reflections of my experience in what I learn about and interact with, and it can be a challenge. The process of awareness of how I’ve adapted and what has been a challenge is ongoing and I’m only able to learn about it through connections with colleagues and communities I have work with. Through my participation in SAA sections and meetings, as well as other organizations such as We Here and Project STAND, I have had the opportunities to participate in trainings, webinars, projects, and social activities that allow me the space to make connections, keep learning, and hopefully make an impact on others. I have also learned that we all hold implicit biases, some more obvious than others and some that are waiting to be uncovered and faced. It is through opportunities provided by SAA, access to resources, and an openness to learn that I feel equipped to face those biases.
It is the Nominating Committee’s charge to create the slate of candidates for SAA’s leadership and it is vital that we ensure a diverse slate of leadership that is reflective and responsive to the needs of our membership and the communities that archivists serve. In preparing for candidate selection, it will be important to hear feedback and experiences of recent leaders, asking about what they’ve learned and challenges they've faced. This reflection and thoughtful response is key to our work throughout SAA.
QUESTION POSED BY NOMINATING COMMITTEE
According to the SAA Council Statement on Black Lives and Archives, "The labor of dismantling white supremacy and structural racism in archives, and beyond, does not rest solely upon our Black membership and other people of color. White archivists, who comprise a vast majority of the field, have a responsibility to disavow racism daily in society and in our profession." How do you interpret the Nominating Committee's role in decreasing structural racism in the field to make it more equitable for BIPOC archives workers?
CANDIDATE'S RESPONSE
It is the Nominating Committee’s charge to create the slate of candidates for SAA’s leadership and it is vital that we ensure a diverse slate of leadership that is reflective and responsive to the needs of our membership and the communities that archivists serve. In preparing for candidate selection, it will be important to hear feedback and experiences of recent leaders, asking about what they’ve learned and challenges they've faced. Having an understanding of how leadership is supported can help us as a Nominating Committee to continue the work of recent years’ leadership.
The Nominating Committee should look for candidates—whether they are Black, other people of color, or white—who have a demonstrated commitment to decreasing structural racism and making a more equitable workplace. Whether it is through scholarship, projects, or other professional activities, it is essential that we look beyond job titles to assess accomplishments. As part of the selection process, the Nominating Committee should also ensure candidate’s commitment to this work through a required statement or response to a specific question.
In order to progress toward dismantling racism within our profession and our collections, we need to be willing to look critically at the structures that have allowed racism and inequity to thrive. We need to be open to different approaches to our work and seek out candidates who are willing to challenge norms. If 2020/2021 has taught me anything, it is that there is no normal to return to. We must create the new normal that we want for ourselves.
Slate of Candidates |
The Nominating Committee has slated the following SAA members as candidates for office in the 2021 election: