Monday, April 8, 2024
The Library recently welcomed Rebecka Taves Sheffield as our new head of Special Collections & Archives (SCA). Rebecka is an award-winning author, educator and archivist with more than fifteen years’ experience working in the field. She recently served two consecutive appointments as vice president of the Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA), from 2017 to 2021, and now holds the position of Managing Editor for the ACA’s highly respected journal, Archivaria.
Rebecka has a background in gender studies, social movement theory and 2SLGBTQ+ histories, which aligns well with SCA’s current collecting strengths. She spent nearly a decade working with the ArQuives: Canada’s LGBTQ+ Archives, an experience that has informed her research and writing. She holds a PhD in Information Studies from the University of Toronto, with a concentration in sexual diversity studies, and completed a MIST degree with a specialization in archives and records management. She’s looking forward to continuing the work of diversifying our collection, working with the Library’s associate directors of equity, diversity, inclusion and access (EDIA) and Indigenous initiatives.
Rebecka has a keen interest in applying her archival skills to the digital world. Before joining Waterloo, she was a Senior Policy Advisor for Ontario’s Digital Service, leading digital and data policy development in the areas of data sharing, generative artificial intelligence and digital recordkeeping practices. Harnessing the innovative scholarship happening at Waterloo and connecting it to the work of SCA is top priority for Rebecka as she embarks on her newest professional endeavor.
