Your name, current work place and position (for students, please tell us what school you’re attending and if you have chosen a specialization):
Ayshea Khan, Asian Pacific American Community Archivist at the Austin History Center, Austin Public Library
Where did you attend school for your MLIS degree?
University of Texas at Austin School of Information (MSIS) in Austin, TX
How long have you been an APALA member? Why did you first join? Are you currently involved as an APALA officer/committee member/other volunteer?
This is my third year being a member of APALA. In Austin, there are very few library/archive workers focused on archival narratives, practices, and outreach initiatives specifically for Asian Pacific American community members. Therefore I turned to APALA to help me expand my network of professional support, find community, and learn from those working in similar spaces across the country.
I currently serve as a Scholarships & Awards Committee Co-Chair.
We’re very interested in the diversity of ethnic/cultural heritage within APALA. Please share your ethnic/cultural heritage with us and any other background information, as desired.
I am an able-bodied, queer biracial South Asian American cisgender woman who was raised in the South.
What aspects of librarianship are key to your personal satisfaction at work? Please share some of your professional goals and interests.
I am passionate about facilitating community collaborations to co-create and preserve historical and contemporary narratives of Asian American community building. As an archivist, I experience deep satisfaction at work when the community members I serve feel empowered to share their stories and can make connections with one another and those who came before them. Inspired by the Community-Driven Archives Program at Arizona State University and the work of Nancy Godoy, I have been currently working on designing and facilitating workshops so Asian American families can preserve their own community stories. I am invested in community-driven models of archiving and aspire to develop my facilitation and management skills so that I can help guide larger community archiving initiatives.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I was immensely thankful for the guidance I received as an APALA mentee in my first year. I encourage young professionals to participate!