2021 Preservation Section Elections

2021 Election: Candidate Statements

Thank you to all of our excellent candidates for standing in the 2021 Preservation Section election. Please take some time to review their candidate statements and get to know them so you can make an informed choice.

You will be voting for:

• One Vice Chair/Chair-Elect
• One Member-At-Large 

Ballots will be managed by SAA staff through Survey Monkey. VOTE HERE: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3WJRJP5

Vice Chair/Chair-Elect Candidates

The following candidates are running for the Vice Chair/Chair-Elect position:

Kim Hoffman
Preservation Librarian, Miami University

Kim Hoffman joined Miami University in Oxford, Ohio as the Preservation Librarian in early 2020. She received her MS in Library and Information Science and her MA in Museum Studies from Syracuse University in New York, where she also earned a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Cultural Heritage Preservation. At Syracuse University, she worked as a Preservation Assistant for three years. Through this experience, she was introduced to book repair and emergency preparedness and developed her interest in library and archival preservation. At Miami, she is responsible for maintaining the circulating, special, and archival collections, as well as the digital preservation program; she also chairs the library’s Disaster Response committee and co-chairs the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee.  

Candidate Statement: As an early-career Preservation Librarian, I have greatly benefited from the professional resources and events available through SAA and other organizations, and I am excited about the opportunity to assist others in the field. I have experience with collections care in a variety of library, archival, and museum settings, which I believe will provide valuable insight to me as a member of Preservation Section leadership. I look forward to bringing my experience and enthusiasm to this role working alongside other committee members.  

Steering Committee Member Candidates

The following candidates are running for the section steering committee Member-At-Large:

John Esh
Processing Archivist, Towson University

John Esh is the Processing Archivist at Towson University and holds a Master of Library Science from Emporia State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with an archaeological focus coupled with a Minor in French from Portland State University and l’Université de Poitiers.

Candidate Statement: Preservation has always held a special place in my heart, from working with archaeological artifacts in both the field and the lab; researching and cataloging antique medical instruments, rare book collections, and floral and faunal artifacts at Oregon Health & Science University; helping to develop a SharePoint library and schema for Adidas North America; to my current position at Towson University where I have begun the process of digitizing and converting all manner of legacy media (from vinyl to floppy disks) for our repositories. Through these endeavors, I have developed a well-rounded skillset with both physical and digital media as well as a keen understanding of the situational limitations of the practice across institutions. I would love the chance to bring my experience and knowledge to the SAA Preservation Section Steering Committee if elected. 

Kat Trammell
Project Archivist

Candidate Statement: Although I am in the early stage of my archives career, I have extensive training in preservation and conservation within the archives field, and it is an aspect of the profession that I am really passionate about. A little bit more about me: I completed my MA in Public History in December of 2019 with emphases in archives and collections management, and I apprentice-trained in the conservation lab at a large state archive for over five years. I am currently pursuing my second master's degree in LIS, and working as the project archivist for a non-profit organization. I also do preservation/conservation projects for both private clients and smaller archives on a contract basis. I truly love preservation work, and issues concerning preservation and access are one of my primary research interests. I would love the opportunity to share my specialized knowledge and skills with the SAA community, and to learn and grow as a professional myself.

Natalie Worsham

Candidate Statement: Since 2018, I have been involved with the Archival History Section--first as an intern and currently as co-editor of the newsletter, Archival History News. This past year I have served as a member of their steering committee. I graduated in December 2019 with an MLIS and Graduate Certificate in Archival Studies from LSU. My previous degrees include an MA and BA in History. Before the pandemic, I was volunteering on Saturdays at the Historic New Orleans Collection in the Williams Research Center as a manuscripts cataloger in order to gain some hands-on experience until I am able to get a job in archives. I would love to be involved with the Preservation Section in order to learn more about preservation, interact with professionals within the field, and stay involved in SAA.