F. Gerald Ham and Elsie Ham Scholarship: Erin E. Voisin

Erin E. Voisin of Louisiana State University is the 2019 recipient of the F. Gerald Ham and Elsie Ham Scholarship given by the Society of American Archivists (SAA).  The $10,000 scholarship supports the graduate archival education of a student who is studying at a United States university program. Scholarship selection criteria include the applicant’s past performance in his or her graduate program in archival studies as well as faculty members’ assessment of the student’s prospects for contributing to the archives profession.

Ms. Voisin’s thoughtful essay, “Breaking Down Barriers: Inclusivity, Outreach, and the Interdisciplinary Imperative,” contends that archival thinking requires a multifaceted, interdisciplinary approach to understand the past and negotiate the challenges of today and the future. She reflects on the evolution of her understanding of archives and the way in which her archival work is informed by her education in classical antiquity and professional experience in historical archaeology. In addition to her exceptional academic record in conjunction with working full time, Voisin actively contributes to the campus ALA and SAA student chapters, and has presented at state and national archival meetings.

Her faculty nominator noted that he is “impressed with her intellectual curiosity, dedication to the profession, and her willingness to go above and beyond requirements.”