Deborah Davis

Job Title (or description):

Director, specifically teaching (professor), outreach, administration and management, acquisitions, oversee processing and digitization, and all other aspects of archives, but don't do processing and digitization.  Also, a Certified Archivist

Institutional Affiliation or Status:

Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections

Interested in the following mentorship types:

Traditional nine-months, Traditional six-months

Did you have a mentor, and what impact did they have on you? 

I didn't have a mentor in archives, but I did in librarianship, and she encouraged me to publish and present

Why would you make a good mentor?

I'm a good mentor to my student assistants and GA. I give them encouragement to advance them in the profession and fund their attendance at conferences. I have worked successfully in the SGA mentorship program before. I also mentor students in my MLIS class. I tried to mentor someone from Atlanta but she got an internship in Atlanta and found a new mentor with more Atlanta connections. So probably give someone not from Atlanta or Athens because there are better mentors close to home. Would prefer someone in a smaller archive, or one just getting started.

What is the best piece of professional advice you received?

I didn't. I wrote a grant and hired a consultant and he gave me great advice about processing and organizing my archives by record group, etc.

What is your favorite type of candy?

dark chocolate