Meet the candidates for 2026-2027 Section Leadership!

Vice Chair/Chair-elect

Tara Zachary Laver, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Email: tlaver@nelson-atkins.org

Biography: Tara Zachary Laver, Senior Archivist at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, has been the museum's archivist since January 2017. In that role, she has focused in part on increasing access to collections, integrating the archives more into museum programs and exhibits, and sharing the museum's history more widely. Before coming to the Nelson-Atkins, she held various positions at the Louisiana State University Libraries Special Collections during her over 16-year tenure there, including Curator of Manuscripts, Interim Head of Special Collections, and Head of Public and Research Services. She has been active in professional archives organizations at all levels. In SAA, she has chaired the Museum Archives, Manuscript Repositories, and Acquisition & Appraisal sections after serving as a steering committee member, and served on past Program and Local Arrangements committees. She's been a member of the Council of the Midwest Archives Conference and co-chair of its 2021 Fall Symposium. At the state level, she served as a member of the board and vice-president of the Missouri Association of Museums and Archives. She is also active in the Kansas City Area Archivists, where she currently chairs the Events Committee. She has been a certified archivist since 2004 and participated in the inaugural cohort of the Archives Leadership Institute in 2008. 

Statement of Interest: Among the many things they don’t teach you in graduate school, management often tops the list. Mentors, colleagues, workshops, reading, and other self-directed learning often fill the gap. At the same time, circumstances unique to our times or currently heightened such as multi-generational workforces, AI, and navigating hostility to DEI, bring new pressures and considerations for managing our repositories.  The Archives Management Section is a valuable resource in meeting these and other challenges, and I welcome the opportunity to contribute to its good work in providing responsive support for archivists at any career stage and in diverse settings.

Steering Committee

Mollie Frazier, East Carolina University

Email: frazierm24@ecu.edu

Biography:  Mollie Frazier is a dedicated archivist passionate about preserving and organizing the wealth of human knowledge with a mission to connect people with information that enriches and educates. With a background in library science and archival management, I bring a unique blend of skills to ensure that the treasures of the past are not only preserved but also easily accessible to those seeking knowledge.

Statement of Interest: As an early-career archivist, I have a strong interest in learning more about the managerial roles in archives to hone my skills while strengthening the networks that help the profession grow and encourage ongoing learning. I am particularly interested in helping to coordinate the Ask A Manager series, which I think it’s a great opportunity for early-career archivists and students to hear many different perspectives and experiences from archival managers. Through my work and professional service, I have gained experience with program planning, member engagement, and collaborative project development that I would be excited to bring to the Archives Management Section. I would love to contribute to its continued success, support its members, and help develop thoughtful and engaging programming for the archival community. Thank you.

Hillary Kativa, University of Delaware

Email: hkativa@udel.edu

Biography:  Hillary S. Kativa is Head of Special Collections at the University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press, a position she's held since 2023. Prior to coming to the University of Delaware, Hillary worked in management roles at Brandeis University, the Science History Institute, and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. She holds both a M.L.I.S. from Rutgers University and M.A. in History from Villanova University and earned her B.A. in History and English from Dickinson College

Statement of Interest: Throughout my career, I've served on the boards and planning committees of a number of professional organizations, including the Delaware Valley Archivists Group, Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries, and Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference. In these service roles, I planned and developed programming for members, recruited speakers, and contributed to strategic planning initiatives. I believe my experience serving on other planning committees and networking with peers has given me insight into the concerns and interests of managers at institutions large and small, which I would strive to represent as a Member of the Steering Committee. Thank you for your consideration.