Melanie Griffin, associate professor of Libraries, joined the University Libraries in August 2023 as chair of Archives & Special Collections. The chair serves as the educational and administrative leader of the unit, overseeing its program initiatives and the building, preservation, and accessibility of a strong collection representing the history of the university, Great Plains literary and cultural history, and other subject areas.
In her first six months on the job, Griffin has been impressed with the knowledge and expertise of the team in the Archives and the Libraries.
“I am really excited to be leading this impressive team of faculty and staff members. They have so much expertise, and they use it to connect people with the information in the Archives and to preserve the collections we steward for future researchers, students, and community members,” Griffin explained.
Recently, she, along with the faculty and staff of Archives & Special Collections, drafted a new strategic plan to focus their efforts on building new tools and technologies that give more access to rare and unique materials, thereby connecting users to learning opportunities and resources.
“With this plan, our intent is to explore ways to work collaboratively, advance accessibility, and find ways to facilitate transformative inquiry and learning opportunities,” Griffin said.
Liz Lorang, dean of Libraries, is enthusiastic about Griffin’s addition to the Libraries leadership.
“University Archives & Special Collections is a treasure of this institution and for our state,” Lorang stated. “We are fortunate to have someone of Professor Griffin’s experience, expertise, and thoughtfulness as a leader in the unit. Professor Griffin has also quickly established herself as a valuable member of the Libraries’ senior leadership team, and we are an even better organization with her arrival.”
Griffin’s research focus is on accessibility and inclusion, and she is currently working on a project that explores the impact of disability and chronic illness on the careers of archivists and special collections librarians with the goal of making the archival profession more inclusive.
Before coming to Nebraska, Griffin served as the interim associate dean for Special Collections (2022–23) and the director of Special Collections Services (2018–23) at the University of Arkansas. Previous employers also include the University of South Florida Libraries and University of South Carolina. She has written many articles, had several grants funded, and given many presentations.
Griffin looks forward to building a cohesive program and working with the campus and communities beyond campus. She can be contacted at mgriffin17@unl.edu.