Sheila Stuckey is the Library Director at Kentucky State University’s Paul G. Blazer Library and has worked in the field of librarianship for over thirty years. She began her professional career as a librarian at her alma mater, South Carolina State University, where she was a Reference and Information Specialist for five years. Since joining the library faculty at Kentucky State University in 1994, Sheila has served in many different roles, including Resources Development and Acquisitions Librarian, Assistant Director for Reference and Information Services, Associate Director, and Library Director since spring 2006. Her other library experiences include working briefly at the National Library of Medicine, and the District of Columbia Public Library. She graduated from South Carolina State University with a B.S. in General Home Economics and a minor in Library Science, and earned a Master of Library Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Sheila has served on various professional boards and committees, including the 1890 Land Grant Institutions Library Deans and Directors Council, the HBCU Library Alliance, the FoKAL (Federation of Kentucky Academic Libraries), SAALCK (State Assisted Academic Library Council of Kentucky), and the Kentucky Virtual Library Alliance and Leadership Team. She enjoys working with civic organizations in her local community.
Jordan Signater is a Reference and Instruction Librarian at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas. Jordan is an alumni of Louisiana State University and has worked in both public and academic libraries since 2002.
Joanna Soderberg is a social justice advocate and digital humanities enthusiast from Sweden, currently based in Nashville. After moving to the U.S. to pursue a master’s degree in social justice at Fisk University, she joined the Forging Future Pathways Forward: Building a portal to the Julius Rosenwald collection for all digitization project, where she developed a passion for digital preservation and historical storytelling. With a BA in Sociology and a long background in education and organizational development, Joanna is dedicated to using technology to advance social justice initiatives. She has contributed to the John Lewis Social Justice Center at Fisk university, facilitated DEI conversations, and supported Music City’s Community Court in Nashville. Currently, Joanna continues her work at the John Hope & Aurelia E. Franklin Library, while also furthering her expertise in digital public humanities as a recipient of the HBCU-NMAAHC scholarship. She is enrolled in the Smithsonian-Mason Graduate Certificate Program at George Mason University. Her mission is to spread knowledge, bridge communities, and inspire change through innovative, justice-driven solutions.
Connor Joseph is a cultural heritage professional with a strong commitment to preserving and promoting African American history. Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, she earned a BA in Psychology from Fisk University and an MA in Museum Studies from the University of Kansas. Always committed to telling the stories within the African American experience, her interest in African American cultural preservation deepened during her time as a Robert F. Smith Intern at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, where she worked in the John Hope and Aurelia Franklin Special Collections. This pivotal experience launched her into the field of cultural heritage, combining her academic background with a passion for community-centered historical work. While at the University of Kansas, Connor was affiliated with the Spencer Museum of Art as the Mellon Foundation Academic Programs Coordinator. There, she facilitated collaborations between the museum and the university, helping to create opportunities for interdisciplinary engagement and public scholarship. Connor now serves as the Special Collections Librarian at Fisk University, where she supports the stewardship of the university’s rich archival collections. Her work centers on increasing access to Fisk’s historical resources and ensuring the preservation of narratives central to African American history and culture.