2013-2014 Junior Co-Chair Candidate Statement

THERESA POLK

MLS Student, University of Maryland

I am a second-year MLS student at the University of Maryland, specializing in Archives, Records, and Information Management. My background is in Latin American studies, with a focus on human rights and gender issues. Before enrolling at Maryland, I worked for several years in the public policy arena in Washington DC, as well as working internationally on human rights issues in Guatemala. This experience -- particularly supporting families of the disappeared -- awakened my interest in exploring how archives can support human rights, and the role of archival institutions in post-conflict and transitional contexts. I am excited to support the ongoing work and continued development of the SAA Human Rights Roundtable, looking for ways to foster community through online forums and collaborative efforts with other groups with aligned values.