Brenda Gunn, Candidate for Vice President/President-Elect

"I envision DEI as a patchwork quilt, where diverse colors, patterns, and textures come together in harmony to tell a story of individuals and community . . . Together, we can create an association that truly reflects and serves all its members, stitching our diverse experiences into a stronger whole"

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Brenda Gunn (she/her) is a certified archivist, holds an MLIS and has coursework towards a PhD in History from the University of Texas at Austin. She served on the SAA's Council from 2017-2019, on the SAA Foundation board from 2013-2017, and is an SAA Distinguished Fellow. She has previously served as president of the Academy of Certified Archivists and of the Society of Southwest Archivists, which awarded her its Distinguished Service Award.

As President of SSA, Brenda led the effort to establish the SSA/SAA Emergency Disaster Assistance Grant fund in 2005 and facilitated the conversion of that regional fund to what is now the National Disaster Recovery Fund for Archives. She has been involved in numerous working groups, task forces, and committees at the local, regional, national, and international level.As Associate University Librarian for Special Collections and Preservation at the University of Virginia, Brenda serves on the University Library's Senior Leadership Team and directs the Small Special Collections Library.

She previously worked at the Briscoe Center for American History at UT Austin where she moved from managing archivist to Director of Research and Collections over an 18-year tenure, during which she held the inaugural Janey Slaughter Briscoe Archivist position. Brenda is involved in teaching, research, and leadership training. She teaches an undergraduate seminar on Archives and Society in the Historic Preservation program at the University of Mary Washington. One of her research interests is reflected in the Archival Revolutions Project, co-created with Steven Booth. She and Booth are co-authors of a report on their research findings which CLIR will publish in 2025. Brenda was a member of the NHPRC-funded Archives Leadership Institute's Steering Committee from 2013-2018, and is currently the director of ALI@Virginia, 2024-2026. 

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

(Each candidate prepared a diversity statement according to SAA guidelines.)

I'm honored by the Nominating Committee's invitation to run for VP/President Elect of SAA. My growth as a DEI advocate stems from recognizing my own biases and privilege. Through workshops and structured learning on dismantling systemic racism and developing trauma-informed practices, I've learned to question assumptions I once held about myself and about foundational archival practices. This self-reflection led me to design my graduate history curriculum to focus on slavery in the US, recognizing gaps in my own education. I don't expect others to guide my learning – I've committed to ongoing self-education and growth through active listening and concrete action.

This commitment shapes my daily work. As co-chair of my library's Inclusive Excellence Task Force, I collaborated to develop a comprehensive DEI roadmap that has served to embed and operationalize reparative practices. I've redesigned job descriptions to acknowledge and address systems perpetuating harm. My approach to trauma-informed practice emphasizes building trust with communities historically excluded from archives. This has led to meaningful partnerships with indigenous communities that are building tribal archives and collaborations with descendant communities uncovering their ancestors' stories in university records.

I envision DEI as a patchwork quilt, where colors, patterns, and textures come together in harmony to tell a story of individuals and community. Like a quilt, DEI is both functional and artistic – it serves an essential purpose while creating beauty through inclusion. In SAA, this means ensuring fair treatment, removing barriers to advancement into leadership, and creating an environment where all members feel welcomed and empowered. It means standing up for DEI and defending DEI principles when challenged. It means that this association, representing a community of archivists, should be vocal about what is righteous about our work and that archives are fundamentally essential to society.

As VP/President Elect, I will build on SAA's progress while acknowledging the challenges ahead. My specific plans include:

·         Working with the membership committee to develop a mentoring program focusing on pathways to leadership

·         Establishing a task force to develop professional standards incorporating inclusive practices, which will build on SAA's Strategic Goals and Code of Ethics

·         Positioning SAA as a strong and vocal advocate for DEI in the archival field and for supporting members facing institutional resistance to narrative corrections and collection diversification

·         Collaborating with allied professions to address public policy that misinforms the public and mistreats and maligns memory workers.

We face increasing challenges to DEI work in many of our institutions, but I believe SAA must stand tall as a model professional organization that embraces and operationalizes inclusive practices. Together, we can create an association that truly reflects and serves all its members, stitching our diverse experiences into a stronger whole.

QUESTION POSED BY NOMINATING COMMITTEE

How would you manage competing priorities for financial stability and meeting membership needs? What specific measures do you plan to pursue to guide the Society in alignment with its mission and strategic goals? What qualities and values would you bring to this role to ensure equitable and responsive governance of the Society?

CANDIDATE'S RESPONSE

I understand the complex balance between financial stability and meeting membership needs, having managed competing priorities across multiple archival settings. Throughout my career, I've learned that successful leadership requires both strategic decision-making and transparent communication. For example, when faced with budget constraints in my current role, I've implemented tiered approaches to project funding that allow for maintaining essential services while strategically investing in growth areas. This has included prioritizing staff development alongside addressing technical debt, resulting in both improved services and sustainable operations.

As Vice President/President Elect, I will work collaboratively with SAA's officers, Council, and staff to ensure both fiscal responsibility and member support. I plan to implement quarterly virtual convenings to gather direct member feedback on needs and priorities as well as deliver a business case to members for creating standards for operationalizing DEI in archival settings. Conversations we can have within the profession can include additional training for DEI issues, trauma informed archival practice, leadership workshops for emerging professionals, and strengthening partnerships with allied professional organizations to expand our reach. Are these new initiatives financially feasible? If not, are there current programs that can be phased out? These are tough questions but necessary ones for SAA to continue its transformation to one of equal opportunity for participation, welcoming and respecting all.

To ensure alignment with SAA's mission and strategic goals, I will strengthen our existing review practices. Beyond Council's regular Strategic Plan reviews, I propose implementing an annual Society-wide 360-degree review process to assess leadership effectiveness and strategic progress. I'll evaluate and revise as needed the current metrics for measuring success in meeting strategic objectives, while surveying regular communication channels and identifying opportunities for additional feedback mechanisms to gather member feedback and develop accountability measures that track both financial health and member satisfaction.

I bring to this role a collaborative leadership style that actively seeks out and values diverse perspectives when making decisions. My years of experience managing complex budgets and competing priorities have taught me that transparency in decision-making processes builds trust and strengthens organizational bonds. I believe in creating spaces where members feel heard and supported, knowing that our collective wisdom leads to better outcomes than any single voice. By bringing together diverse perspectives, we've been able to identify creative solutions that serve multiple needs while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

My commitment to SAA's success is rooted in my deep belief that building strong professional communities benefits us all. I see SAA's governance as a shared responsibility between leadership and members – one that requires active listening, thoughtful response, and mutual respect. Through this approach, we can ensure SAA remains an essential professional resource that supports all archivists while advancing our profession's crucial role in society. By fostering genuine dialogue, maintaining fiscal responsibility, and ensuring responsive governance, we can build a stronger professional community that thrives even in challenging times.

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