Vice-president/President Elect

Alyssa Pacy

Education:

M.S. Archives Management, Simmons College;
M.A. History, Simmons College;
B.A., English, George Washington University.

Employment:

Archivist, Cambridge Public Library, Cambridge, MA;
University Archivist, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA;
Preservation Specialist (Intern), John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA.

Service to New England Archivists:

Education Coordinator, 2011 to present;
Chair, Education Committee, 2010 to 2011;
Newsletter Editor, 2009 to 2010.
Session Speaker: "Is Archival Education Preparing Tomorrow's Archivists?," Spring 2011.
Session Chair: "Connecting with Communities," Fall 2011.
Article for NEA Newsletter, "A New Space for an Old Collection," October 2011.
Member since 2004.

. Service to the archival profession:

Member of SAA, 2004 to present.
Written articles for SAA publications, including "3 Days, 9 Archives, 380 Years of History," Archival Outlook September/October 2011.
Offered internship program to Simmons GSLIS students since 2007.
Served as a mentor to archives students and new professionals.

Candidate question:
In an age of shifting demographics, job functions, and financial constraints, how can NEA offer professional support to its members at all stages of their careers?

I believe that NEA already provides excellent professional support to its members - from offering extremely low membership rates to organizing workshops on cutting edge archival theory to publishing a high quality newsletter four times a year. We are in a great position to address the challenges of our profession and do even more for our members, recruit new members, and keep costs low.

A crucial first step begins online with our website. It is time for a transformation - not only in terms of design but also in terms of use. To make the NEA website the first place New England area archivists go for information, it must be dynamic, interactive, robust, easy to use, and timely. Our members should use our website to engage with each other, offer suggestions, use and share resources, and take webinars.

In addition to NEA's online presence, we must fine tune our professional development opportunities to engage mid and senior-level archivists. NEA serves students and new professionals exceptionally well, and with programming that focuses on leadership, management, and career goals on the one hand and large scale implementation of innovative technology on the other, we can appeal to archivists at all stages of their careers. Also, we must continue to connect with "accidental archivists, " those responsible for archival collections who do not have professional training and who benefit greatly from our beginner archival workshops.

Lastly, NEA has an opportunity to influence the evolving definition of what it means to be an archivist. There are very few traditional archivist positions being advertised in New England, which can be attributed to both the economy and shifting job functions. Yet, the training that archivists receive - from the technical to project management - is in high demand. NEA must work with our members who are under and unemployed to find jobs outside the traditional archives environment and gear programming towards the role of archivists in the new economy.

Jane Ward

Education:

MSLIS (Archives concentration), Simmons College;
B.A. in History, Vassar College.

Employment:

Assistant Librarian, 2006-present, American Textile History Museum;
Cataloging Project Coordinator, 2002-2006 (part-time), American Textile History Museum;
Curator of Manuscripts, 1991-2000, Essex Institute/Peabody Essex Museum;
Assistant Curator of Manuscripts, 1990-1991, Essex Institute;
Archivist, 1988-1990 (part-time), Boston Symphony Orchestra;
Manuscripts Processor, 1988-1990 (part-time), Schlesinger Library;
Assistant Editor of Publications, Colonial Society of Massachusetts, 2002-present; Free-lance newspaper columnist, 2000-2011.

Service to NEA:

Development Coordinator, 2001-present;
Local Arrangements Committee, Fall 2009 (chair), Spring 2007 (chair), Spring 2002 (co-chair), Spring 2000 (chair), Spring 1999 (chair), Spring 1998 (co-chair), Spring 1993;
Representative-at-Large, 1997-2000;
Program Committee, Spring 1997 (chair);
Ad Hoc Committee on Policy, 2006; Task Force on Future Meetings, 2002;
Task Force on Future Directions, 1995.

Service to the Archival Profession:

SAA member, 1988-present;
Archival consultant, 2000-2006.

Response to Candidate Question:
In an age of shifting demographics, job functions, and financial constraints, how can NEA offer professional support to its members at all stages of their careers?

As a board member for over ten years, I think NEA has done a remarkable job of providing professional support to its members--our dues are low, we provide meetings and workshops at an extremely affordable rate, we've created a student membership rate to encourage archival students to join the organization. Many of NEA's members are financially constrained from participating in our profession at the national level and turn to NEA for information, education, and networking. We're currently working on a bridge rate for meetings that would enable unemployed colleagues to continue attending NEA meetings, and looking at establishing round tables that would provide a means for members to come together according to their individual interests.

One of the most important things we can do to is to continue to survey members every year to find out their needs and what they hope NEA can do for them. The membership directory is online; we've begun online membership renewal; and we hope to have online meeting registration in the near future. Members have requested all of these services and we've done our best to supply them.

While we've done well to provide support to members in the early stages of their careers, I think we need to explore ways to provide support to our members who are at a more advanced stage of the profession. More advanced sessions and workshops and/or more outside speakers would appeal to those who've been working in the archival field for some time. I would like to see more use of technology to disseminate some of the keynote speeches and sessions from meetings to those who could either not attend or for those who would like to revisit a discussion down the road. As Development Coordinator, I'm aware of how much vendor support has helped to keep meeting costs affordable and I think we need to explore ways to enhance such outside support so NEA can continue serving all its members to the best of our abilities.

Secretary

Marta Crilly

Education:

M.S. in Library Science, Concentration in Archives Management, Simmons College;
M.A. in History, Simmons College;
B.A. in English Literature, History, and Spanish, University of Tennessee

Employment:

Assistant Archivist, City of Boston Archives (November 2011 - present)
Records Processor, Christian Science Church (May 2011-October 2011)
Archives Intern, John F Kennedy Presidential Library (2009-2011)
Archives Assistant, Howard Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy Archives (2007-2008)

Service to the archival profession:

Co-Chair, Student Chapter of the Society of American Archivists at Simmons (2009-2010)
-- Organized three panels addressing archival ethics, disaster planning and prevention, and careers in archives
-- Coordinated an address by Dr. Saad Eskander (National Archivist of Iraq)
-- Planned and administered a student job shadowing program in cooperation with New England Archivists.

Candidate question:
In an age of shifting demographics, job functions, and financial constraints, how can NEA offer professional support to its members at all stages of their careers?

Keeping up with the changing archives profession often proves difficult for both new and seasoned archivists alike. I questioned a few NEA members to see how they felt NEA could support them as their careers shift and grow. Two main ideas stood out. First, many individuals noted that both new and experienced archivists are entering untraditional jobs or taking on untraditional duties. We can support these archivists by offering workshops and panels that address issues such as records management or digital preservation. Polling our members to discover which areas are most pertinent to their careers can ensure that we provide the most useful and relevant resources to our membership.

Second, members mentioned the need to develop connections with other archives professionals. As we face new challenges with shrinking resources, input from our colleagues is an invaluable tool. One way in which NEA can build and strengthen connection is to hold more frequent local events. These programs could include panels, repository tours, and informal discussions of current archives trends or events. Smaller, localized programs may be particularly helpful in connecting recent graduates and seasoned professionals who work in the same geographic area. Having a strong and diverse professional network is instrumental to archivists dealing with unfamiliar questions and problems.

NEA has the capacity to provide relevant and practical support for its members. By taking concrete steps to address untraditional archival issues and by building strong and diverse professional networks, we can give our members the tools they need to advance our profession.

Silvia Mejia

Education:

M.S., Library and Information Science, Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences, Simmons College;
B.S., Communications and Journalism, Suffolk University

Employment:

Special Collections Librarian, Special Collections, Massachusetts State Library, October 2011-present;
Reference Librarian Evening/Weekend, Regis College Library, October 2011-present; MIT150 Archivist, MIT Institute Archives, 2008-2011;
Thesis Processor and Reference Assistant, MIT Institute Archives, 1999-2008;
Boston Architectural College, Weekend Reference and Electronic Reserves Librarian, 2002-2008;
Reference Assistant, Historical Collections, Harvard Business School, 1990-1999.

Service to New England Archivists:

NEA Secretary 2010-2012;
NEA Member since spring 2003;
Discussion Group co-moderator for an open forum on wikis and blogs, fall 2006.

Service to the archival profession:

Member of SAA since 2005;
Junior Co-Chair to SAA Latin American and Caribbean Culture Heritage Archives Roundtable (LACCHA) 2011-2012;
Communication Liaison for SAA LACCHA and Seminar on the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials (SALALM) August 2009-present;
Membership Chair of New England Chapter of the American Society for Information Science & Technology (NEASIST) 2010-present.

Candidate question:
In an age of shifting demographics, job functions, and financial constraints, how can NEA offer professional support to its members at all stages of their careers?

NEA is constantly developing ways to improve membership services and advocating for our profession and these efforts are very important now at a time of shifting demographics, job functions and budgetary constraints. However, without a strong group of volunteers it is very difficult for our organization to continue to produce new ideas that will support its members during critical times. I believe that in order for NEA to provide additional support to its members it needs to concentrate efforts on recruiting and advocating to new members and provide convenient venues for archivists and archives students to volunteer for our organization in order to improve and expand the work that NEA is already doing. More volunteers could help in finding funding sources that can help develop additional programs to support our members at various states of their career.

Representative-At-Large

Patrick Collins

Education:

Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science, MLIS;
Fordham University, BA.

Employment:

Document and Records Management Analyst, August 2010 - Present
City of Boston, Department of Innovation and Technology
Assistant Archivist, October 2007 - July 2010
City of Boston, Archives and Records Management Division
Ernest Hemingway Collection Intern, September 2006-October 2007
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Hemingway Collection

Service to New England Archivists:

Member since 2007
Attendance at bi-annual NEA meetings since 2007

Service to the archival profession:

Hosted/mentored interns from Simmons' GSLIS program since 2008 at the City of Boston Archives

Candidate question:
In an age of shifting demographics, job functions, and financial constraints, how can NEA offer professional support to its members at all stages of their careers?

The most effectual way NEA can offer professional support to its members would be to facilitate the dissemination of knowledge between its members. The knowledge and experience of NEA members are NEA's greatest strength. For those starting out in their careers, this sharing could take the form of the resume help currently offered at the bi-annual meetings. In addition, NEA could provide opportunities for mentoring between those with more experience in their careers and those just striking out. As for those members who are established in their careers, professional support should include options for broadening their skill sets and ways to stay current in the field. To provide this support NEA should look to expand its current practice of hosting professional workshops throughout the New England area. Additionally, NEA might consider the possibility of providing some sort of financial assistance to help defray the cost for members who wish to attend national professional conferences. Finally, all of these ideas will foster support for the individual who transitions careers within the archival field as he or she meets the demands of modern technology and encounters new responsibilities.

Colin Lukens

Education:

MS in Library and Information Science (Archives Management), Simmons College.
BA, University of Minnesota.

Employment:

Holdings Management Associate, 2005-Present, Collections Management Assistant, 2002-2005 - Harvard University Archives.

Service to New England Archivists:

Author/book reviewer, NEA newsletter, January 2012.
Communications Committee, 2009-2012.
Outreach Committee, 2009.
Member, 2007-present.

Service to the archival profession:

Organizer, Preservation in the Harvard Libraries, Special Collections and Archives: An Unconference, 2012.
Organizer, History in Objects Program, Harvard Library, 2011-2012.
Program Chair, History of the Harvard Libraries and Archives, 2012.
Author, Care and Handling of Archival and Special Collections Materials, Weissman Preservation Center, 2008.

Candidate question:
In an age of shifting demographics, job functions, and financial constraints, how can NEA offer professional support to its members at all stages of their careers?

The most valuable thing New England Archivists has given me is an opportunity to connect with other archivists. It has given me a community to turn to, full of ideas and solutions. Connectivity is the story of our age and this is where NEA can excel and must succeed. Whether someone is looking to start a career in archives, needing to retool in a current position, or wanting to share or gain knowledge and skills, NEA can and will be the resource that assists regional archivists in achieving their goals.

In recent years, NEA has taken many positive steps to help grow and connect its membership in these times of marginal resources. As Representative-at-Large, I would continue to support the diversity and collaboration initiatives set forth by the strategic plan, assistance for unemployed members such as the membership bridge rate, and the progressive communication and education activities. The developing notion of roundtable or discussion groups would be another positive step for NEA. Such groups provide networking opportunities for people within similar disciplines as well as an environment for learning new skills. These enterprises would make for a more accessible, robust, diverse, and knowledgeable organization.

NEA should also consider new opportunities to support and connect its members at all stages of their careers. A career development committee or team could help with resume review, internship development or volunteer opportunities, job searching, and a mentorship program. They could also collaborate with the Education Committee to host broader workshops on job searching, personal marketing, or mid-career changes. NEA should accelerate its goal to host bi-weekly or monthly networking lunches, after-work events, short programs, and repository tours. These would allow members to meet, talk about issues, and share ideas in an informal way. I would push for a vigorous marketing of NEA awards, especially the Hale and Distinguished Service Awards, and explore further options of recognition for innovative and influential archivists as established by the strategic plan. We need to find ways to keep esteemed colleagues in our region engaged in our organization. As Representative-at-Large, I would work to complete stated goals of the strategic plan and search for new initiatives that help grow connectivity, are inclusive and cost-effective, address diversity, and grow the stature of NEA as an advocate for archives within the New England region.

New England Archivists' greatest strength is you, the membership. We should exploit that fully and create a stronger organization to help more members during positive and negative times along their career path. I have enjoyed getting to know many of you through my membership in and volunteering with NEA, and would consider it an honor to serve on the NEA Board.