On Wednesday, October 2, the WVU Libraries will host a conversation with Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan at the Erickson Alumni Center. In honor of American Archives Month, Dr. Shogan will discuss the role of archives and records in strengthening the nation’s democracy, the vital importance of preserving and understanding history, and the work of the National Archives and Records Administration.   

Dr. Colleen J. Shogan is the 11th Archivist of the United States. She was sworn in on May 17, 2023, and is the first woman appointed to lead the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). As the nation’s record keeper, Dr. Shogan is responsible for preserving, protecting, and sharing the history of the United States. A noted author and political scientist, Dr. Shogan is deeply committed to civic education and public engagement, and she has made it a priority to expand the reach of the National Archives to a wider audience. Under her leadership, NARA has launched several initiatives to enhance services and make its holdings more accessible, both in-person and online, with the goal of cultivating public participation and strengthening our nation's democracy. 

Discussing the important position that Dr. Shogan holds and her leadership at NARA is Dr. Lisa DeFrank-Cole. She is an author, educator, and leadership coach with 25 years of experience working in universities and in state government. She currently serves as professor and director of Leadership Studies at West Virginia University where she holds the F. Duke Perry endowed professorship. In 2022, she won a ‘Most Promising New Textbook’ award from the Textbook and Academic Authors Association and an Award for Outstanding Scholarship from the International Leadership Association for her work as coauthor of the textbook, Women and Leadership: Journey Toward Equity.