Role: Intern

Leo is a second-year MISt student at McGill university who has been centring his studies around archival practices and digitization. While their academic interests in the field of information studies are many, their experience with archaeology and their BA in Classical Studies have encouraged them to pursue further the study of archival history and the…

Madison Lemke (she/her) is an aspiring archivist completing her final year of a Masters of Information Studies degree at McGill University. With a BFA from Emily Carr University of Art + Design, her academic and research interests include visual culture, critical theory, and the preservation and curation of photographic materials. Her internship with CIDIHCA (le…

J.J. Watson-MacKay (he/him) is a father and a second-year graduate student, soon to be completing his Master of Library and Information Studies at the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) iSchool. His memory work interests include reference services, readers’ advisory, Black Diasporic studies, research guides, and trauma-informed community capacity building through archives and libraries. Through FOCAS,…

Lauren St. Clair (she/her) is pursuing a Dual Master of Archival and Library Studies (MAS/LIS) through the School of Information at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She works with Vanessa Lee at the VIVO Media Arts Centre, an artist-run centre, in the Crista Dahl Media Library & Archive (CDMLA), processing and describing video art…

Mina Guan (she/her) is an aspiring information professional currently pursuing a Master of Archival Studies and Library and Information Studies at UBC. With the FOCAS project, she is conducting archive feasibility research for Hogan’s Alley Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to amplifying the presence of Black history in Vancouver and British Columbia. Intentionality, relationships, and…

Vanessa Lee (she/her) is a Dual Master of Archival Studies and Library and Information Studies student at the University of British Columbia. With an interest in artists’ records, she is committed to surfacing the contributions of those written out of canonical narratives through a person-centered archival practice. As a FOCAS intern, Vanessa is working with…

Alia Hijaab is an artist, researcher, and graduate student pursuing her dual MAS/MLIS. She has roots in Syria, Qatar, the Southern United States, and now Vancouver, BC. She is the co-president of El Yasmin Library, a student-run community library offering Arabic-language and Middle East & North Africa (MENA) books and media. Her work is focused on…

Megan Cohen (she/they) is a first year doctoral student of library, archival, and information studies at the University of British Columbia iSchool. She has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Archaeology and a Master’s in Archival Studies. (MAS). As a professional, she has worked in community organizing and heritage organizations for over a decade. Her research…

Riqué “Rich” Duhamell Escobedo is a second-year graduate student completing their M.A. in Library and Information Science (MLIS) through the School of Information at the University of Arizona. Academic interests in indigenous data sovereignty and inclusive makerspaces have led them to also pursue certificates in digital curation and archival studies. Their areas of focus in…

Eric Reed (he/him) is a second-year graduate student at the University of Arizona, who is pursuing a master’s in library and information science as well as certificate in Archival Studies. He is interested in utilizing his skills and knowledge to empower communities through preserving their histories and ensuring that it is made accessible to the…