AES candidates 2020-2021

AES candidates - 2020-2021

 Chair

Ashley Todd-Diaz

Ashley Todd-Diaz, Ph.D. is Assistant University Librarian for Special Collections and University Archives at Towson University. She also teaches as an adjunct professor in Emporia State University’s Master of Library and Information Science and Archives Studies Certificate programs. Ashley has served on the Archival Educators Section Steering Committee for the last two years and is interested in taking the next step with her work on the committee by running for chair. She has strong interests in graduate archival education as well as archival literacy at the K-12 and undergraduate levels. In addition to her work as a member of the Archival Educators Section steering committee, Ashley is active within the Society of American Archivists as incoming vice-chair of the Graduate Archival Education Subcommittee and a member of the Mentoring Subcommittee. She holds a Ph.D. from Emporia State University’s School of Library and Information Management, an MSIS with a concentration in Archives and Records Administration from SUNY at Albany, an MA in English and American Literature from New York University, and a BA from Sarah Lawrence College.

 Vice-chair

Aisha Johnson-Jones

I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Library and Information Sciences at North Carolina Central University, and I am interested in serving as the vice-chair for the Archival Educators Section of the Society of American Archivists. I also serve as the Program Coordinator for the Archives and Records Management concentration, and Program Director for the Master of Library Science program. With a Ph.D. and Master’s in Library and Information Studies, I stand on a soapbox for unveiling the history of underrepresented communities through the use of historical documents. Much of my research on the development of literacy in the African-American community, and those philanthropic efforts to develop public libraries in the South is driven by my passion for original research. This has benefited my teaching greatly when instructing synthesis, coding, and analysis of archival documents.

 My advocacy for the archives is not only conveyed in research, but also in my professional career. Over the years, I have gained experience in archives management, curriculum development, instruction as well as program evaluation. With such a dedication to the field, I encourage redefining the archival scholar and working against biases. As a manager, I promoted a Breeding Scholars Initiative that introduces high school and college students to archival research and places the focus on synthesis.

 It would be my pleasure to serve as the vice-chair of the Archival Educators Section in continued efforts that promote archival use, access, and advocacy.

 Steering Committee

Steven Duckworth

I’m Steve Duckworth (he/him) and I possibly have a few too many roles. My main gig is as the University Archivist at Oregon Health & Science University, but I’m also the Interim Director of Special Collections there (thanks, COVID). In addition to that, I teach as an adjunct lecturer at Emporia State and Rutgers universities, having taught introduction to archives courses online at both institutions. I hold an MLIS from Drexel University as well as a few degrees in music performance. With SAA, I’ve served on the Diversity Committee and the Steering Committee of the Issues & Advocacy Section, and I am on the Organizing Committee of the Archival Workers Emergency Fund.

 Teaching with archives and teaching future archives professionals, as well as my earlier life as a Suzuki cello teacher, have all significantly informed my work as an archival practitioner, mentor, and teacher. I approach my teaching with an experiential and empathetic lens. I feel this is something often missing from archives education – whether that is in defined master’s degree programs or structured internships; in volunteer service, student employment, or mentorship settings, or in teaching and educating archives-user communities. Often we focus on theory or actively avoid emotional connection in teaching and archives work. This is why I’m interested in serving on the Steering Committee for the Archival Educators Section. I believe the way we educate can change the future of our profession as a whole. This can already be seen in a wave of newer professionals now teaching in archival programs; there is a care to the well-being of the whole person that is vital to our progress as a profession. I would like to see that ethic of care become more universal in our myriad educational settings.

 Ana Roeschley

I an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Archival Studies at Louisiana State University. I am currently a doctoral candidate in the College of Information at the University of North Texas. After receiving my BA in English from the University of Texas at Austin, I earned an MS in Library and Information Science and an MA in History from Simmons College. Before starting my PhD program, I worked in the Downs-Jones Library and Archives at Huston-Tillotson University. As an educator and archival scholar I believe that the development of archival education is one of the most important charges that the Society of American Archivists has taken on. Our field is dependent on archival practice, scholarship, and education. Each of the three need to be nourished for the field to thrive. Archival education, in particular, has the potential to shape the future of archivy and that is exactly why I have a strong interest in serving on the steering committee of the Archival Educators Section of SAA.