Ricky Punzalan named 2023 Fellow of the Society of American Archivists

University of Michigan School of Information associate professor Ricky Punzalan has been named a 2023 fellow of the Society of American Archivists (SAA). The distinction is the highest honor bestowed on individuals by SAA and is awarded for outstanding contributions to the archives profession.

SAA is awarded to individuals who demonstrate unwavering commitment to the field of archiving; contributions to the profession demonstrating initiative, resourcefulness and commitment; and outreach projects and scholarship of superior quality demonstrating broad impact in the archival profession and beyond. 

“Professor Punzalan has demonstrated these qualities and more,” says Beth Yakel, interim dean at UMSI. “His scholarship is highly regarded internationally. For example, his community-based research on digitization of indigenous materials engaged Indigenous peoples in the research and sought their perspectives on how best to achieve digital sovereignty over the newly digitized materials. His service activities have focused on making the archives profession more just and equitable.” 

Punzalan has done years of research on digital repatriation and elevating community access to historical works. Most recently, he was appointed to the Library of Congress American Folklife Center’s Board of Trustees. His project, ReConnect/ReCollect, seeks to decolonize the University of Michigan’s Philippine Collection by repairing harmful historical descriptions and constructing new models for how to best engage community members and scholars with the plethora of Filipino history stored at U-M.

At SAA, Punzalan is the chair of the archival repatriation committee. He also holds chair positions in the visual materials section and the Native American archives section. 

“My involvement in SAA allows me to work with colleagues who share my scholarly and advocacy interests and influence the thinking and practice in the areas of archives that I am passionate about,” says Punzalan. “I always believed that archives and archivists can make a big difference in people's lives and the communities they serve. My election as a Fellow of the Society is an important recognition, but it is also a platform for me to amplify my message of the value of building reciprocal relationships between archives and communities.” 

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Read more about Ricky Punzalan and his research activities by visiting his UMSI faculty profile.