Roberto E. Nañes, Candidate for Regent for Examination Administration

In what ways, if any, would you advocate or initiate collaboration between the Academy and SAA, especially in regards to the topic of educational coursework?

Addressing the collaboration between the ACA and SAA with regard to educational coursework, I maintain that emphasizing ethical decision-making in archives is crucial, based on my personal experience as a graduate student and a professional.

During my MLS coursework, there was a lack of content focusing on ethical decision-making. Therefore, I propose a partnership between the Academy and SAA to address this gap in archival education. First, I advocate for the creation of courses emphasizing ethical decision-making in archives. By integrating theoretical frameworks with real-world case studies, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of ethical challenges, such as privacy, access, representation, and social justice. This collaboration will ensure both academically rigorous and professionally relevant curricula.

Second, I recommend organizing joint workshops, seminars, and webinars that concentrate on ethical decision-making in archival work. These events, catering to both students and professionals, will foster continuous learning and professional development. By leveraging the expertise of both the ACA and SAA, attendees will be exposed to diverse perspectives and cutting-edge research in archival ethics.

Lastly, I suggest implementing mentorship and internship programs focused on ethical decision-making through collaborative efforts between the Academy and SAA. These programs will provide students with practical experience guided by professionals from both organizations. Gaining exposure to various archival settings and projects that emphasize ethical decision-making will enable students to skillfully handle real-world ethical dilemmas in their future careers.

In conclusion, by concentrating on the ethical aspects of decision-making in archives, the ACA and SAA collaboration can significantly enrich educational coursework, preparing students for challenges in the archival profession, and highlighting the importance of ethical practice.

 

Professional Experience:

• Archivist, University of Houston-Clear Lake Archives and Special Collections: October 2022 - present.
• Archives Associate, University of Houston-Clear Lake Archives and Special Collections: September 2019 - September 2021.
• Records Administration Coordinator, CBRE Houston: September 2021 - September 2022.
• Archives Volunteer, University of Houston-Clear Lake Archives and Special Collections: 2018.
• Practicum, Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library: January 2018 - June 2018.
• Processor, Vietnam Archive and Center, Texas Tech University: December 2011 - August 2013.

Education:

• MLS, University of North Texas: 2018
• BA, Language and Literature, Texas Tech University: 2013

 

Professional Activities:

• Academy of Certified Archivists: Member, 2019-present.
• Society of Southwest Archivists (SSA): Member, 2016-present.