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Many thanks to all of our excellent candidates for putting themselves forward in this election cycle. Please read and consider their statements carefully before submitting your votes.
The positions up for election this cycle are:
SAA will be sending the ballots out to all members via Survey Monkey, so watch your inbox and vote!
The following candidate is running for the Vice Chair/Chair-Elect position:
Elias Larralde, MLIS
Archival Assistant, Center for Creative Photography
My name is Elias (Eli) Larralde (he/him) and I am running for the Vice-chair/chair-elect position for the SAA SNAP section. I first was a member of SAA through the Josephine Forman Scholarship and I want to expand my engagement with the organization, especially within the SNAP section as it is one of the most important sections. I am currently the Archival Assistant I at the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson, Arizona, where I recently graduated from the University of Arizona’s MLIS program. I am a part of the Queer and Trans Metadata collective and the current ARLIS-NA nominating committee, therefore I have some experience working collaboratively with others in professional organizations. My main goal is to continue the work being done by SNAP, while also seeing how the section can be more there for both students and new professionals. As we are the upcoming wave of archivists, it is important to have a SNAP that can help and be a listening ear to this part of the field. This can be done with resource sharing, forums, and other programming that I want to pursue through this position. I want to work with my fellow executive board members to make SNAP the best it can be for the organization and, more importantly, for those it represents. I am a detail-oriented, passionate, and creative individual which I will bring to this position to further the mission of our section. Thank you for considering me for the position!
The following candidates are running for the section Steering Committee / Member-at-Large:
Rachael Sevilla
After working for many years in the entertainment industry, I went back to school to obtain my MLIS at San Jose State University. Since starting my program, I have been involved in the SAASC (the student chapter of SAA), serving on the board as the Membership Director during the 2021-2022 academic year. As a board member, I was able to plan and implement activities for our membership that were fun and helped us to build professional skills. The online scavenger hunt, and semester long transcription competition created a space for students to get to know each other and work together. I am proud that the current SAASC board has continued this type of programming, finding new ways for us to develop skills and have fun together.
As someone who has come to archives from a very different career, I recognize the importance of staying connected with peers and learning from other professionals. I am excited by the prospect of continuing to find ways to learn and grow, and to help other students and new professionals do the same. SNAP serves as an invaluable resource for members such as myself, not only through programming, but by connecting us to the wider archives community and the conversations therein.
When not at work or doing homework, I spend time in my West Hollywood apartment watching movies, baking, or gardening. I am always looking for friends in need of a loaf of zucchini bread, or some surplus eggplant!
Caelin Ross, MSLIS
Performing Arts Librarian, Arizona State University Library
My name is Caelin Ross and I currently serve as the Performing Arts Librarian and curator of the Child Drama Collection at Arizona State University Library. As a new librarian with archival responsibilities and duties, I want to be a part of building a learning community with growth opportunities as well as support. Early career librarianship and archivist professionals look to experienced mentorship for guidance. However, I think there is an equal value in building peer-to-peer support. This includes seeking out training--but also platforms and ways to share our own experiences and knowledge, which can lead to innovative partnerships and opportunities for professional contributions. This committee can create support in developing writing partners, research collaborators, and shape future academic participation in both formal and informal networks. In my position, I curate the Child Drama Collection that documents the international history of theater for youth and theater education, which is the world’s largest such archival repository, containing thousands of works dating back to the 16th century. Reporting to the Head of Open Collections Curation and Access, I proactively partner with faculty to develop opportunities for the diverse community of scholars and learners at ASU to engage with the collections in traditional and creative ways. This includes instruction, reading and reference services, community programs, and other creative engagement activities. I also develop relationships with key stakeholders and donors to help support the library’s capacity to maintain and enhance access to these rich and varied collections, from costumes to playbills. I am skilled in both archival management as well as collections assessment, analysis, and outreach. My interests are in community archival practices, specifically in reaching historically marginalized communities and encouraging their participation and feedback with developing these performing arts collections. I am also interested in archiving with youth, including K-12 students; my philosophy is that anyone of any age, class, educational background, ability, and race should be able to engage with archival material in a way that truly supports their own unique interests and needs. Archives are for everyone.
Nicole Font, MA
Leon Levy Processing Archivist, The Center for Brooklyn History - Brooklyn Public Library
I graduated from NYU’s Archives and Public History MA program in 2022 and currently hold a grant-funded processing archivist position at the Center for Brooklyn History, Brooklyn Public Library. I’ve served as the Social Media Coordinator for SNAP since January 2022 and have gradually taken on more responsibility within the section. In addition to posting on our listserv/socials, I assist with programming, act as the web liaison, and occasionally write for the SNAP blog.
I got involved with SNAP because I am passionate about advocating for the needs of students and new archival professionals, particularly due to the precarious employment, isolation, and exploitation students often face during and after graduate school. As a steering committee member, I want to address these issues by providing resources, support, and community to all students/early-career professionals. Being part of SNAP has been a great experience thus far, and I’d love to continue contributing to the section!
Michelle D. Novak, MI
I hope to continue my work with SAA SNAP to help the Section teach new professionals and support the Section with programming and outreach.
The following candidate is running for the Secretary position:
Jessie Knoles, MSLIS
Newspaper Content Coordinator, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
After serving one year as a steering committee member of SNAP, I would like to nominate myself for the Secretary position for 2023-2024. In this position, I would ensure that the governance of SNAP is accurately recorded and preserved. Similarly, I'm interested in staying on with SNAP because I want to contribute ideas and facilitate programming that will benefit students and new professionals.
