Announcing the Recipients of the 2024 vrcHost Membership Awards
The VRA Awards Committee is delighted to announce that fourteen information professionals have been selected as recipients of the 2024 vrcHost Membership Awards.
The VRA Awards Committee is delighted to announce that fourteen information professionals have been selected as recipients of the 2024 vrcHost Membership Awards.
The vrcHost Membership Awards provide a year of individual VRA membership, and chapter memberships of the recipient’s choice. They are intended to provide VRA memberships to engage new members in the organization and to help existing members who need financial assistance retain their VRA membership.
This second round of awards are sponsored by vrcHost, a company that offers comprehensive solutions for the Madison Digital Image Database (MDID) project--installation, integration, hosting, customization, and software development--while also serving as the exclusive agent for the Archivision Research Library, which provides professional architecture and art photography with rich metadata for educational purposes. VRA is grateful for vrcHost’s continued generosity.
Congratulations to:
Charlie Coffey, Wesleyan University
De'Ivyion "Ivy" Drew, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Madison Ferrell, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Diego Roberto Irigoyen, University of California, Riverside
Ariell Lomax, California State University Sacramento
Kaylie Longley, University of Denver
Liz Miller, Emory University
Meina Naeymirad, Pratt Institute
Elisabeth Narkin, National Gallery of Art
Sureshkrishnan Ramakrishnan, Independent
Spencer Roberts, Emory University
Isis A Serna, University of New Mexico
Amanda Smith, Buffalo AKG Art Museum
Marsha Taichman, Ontario College of Art & Design University
Please join us in welcoming these new members to the Visual Resources Association and in thanking vrcHost for funding these awards.
With much appreciation,
VRA Awards Committee
Announcing the 2024-2025 VRA Professional Development Grant Recipient
The Visual Resources Association (VRA) is pleased to present the 2024-2025 VRA Professional Development Grant in the amount of $1,000 to Jung Soo Bae, Electronic Resources Librarian & Metadata Specialist, National Gallery of Art Library.
The Visual Resources Association (VRA) is pleased to present the 2024-2025 VRA Professional Development Grant in the amount of $1,000 to Jung Soo Bae, Electronic Resources Librarian & Metadata Specialist, National Gallery of Art Library.
Soo will attend the 10th International Conference of Art Libraries to be held in Barcelona, Spain. She plans on sharing insights from the conference, particularly focusing on library practices for Spanish art and cultural history, as well as artificial intelligence applications, with colleagues.
Additionally, Soo intends to explore the feasibility of implementing AI to enhance cataloging practices for e-resources through a pilot project. The results of this exploration will be shared with information professional communities to facilitate feedback and further discussions.
VRA Awards Scouting 2024
The VRA Awards Committee is scouting for potential nominees for 2024 Awards to be presented at the Annual Conference in Minneapolis.
The VRA Awards Committee is scouting for potential nominees for 2024 Awards to be presented at the Annual Conference in Minneapolis.
There are two such awards:
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes a person for their contributions to the field of visual resources work.
The Nancy DeLaurier Award recognizes an achievement of an individual or a group. That achievement can be a published work, oral presentation, project management, software development, technology application, website creation, or other outstanding effort.
If you would like to share your ideas about any people or projects that deserve recognition, please complete this Google form:
https://forms.gle/ADF421qtE4bZyC1k6
Completing the online form is not a formal nomination. The Awards Committee will follow-up about your suggestions, connect potential shared nominators, and provide assistance with the application process. If you've never applied for a VRA Award before, or don't want to complete a nomination all by yourself, this is a great place to start.
You can also email the Awards Committee if you'd like to highlight someone or something for recognition. We so welcome your ideas and suggestions sent on through the Google form or to our shared e-mail atvra.awards@gmail.com
Deadline Extended! 2024 vrcHost Membership Awards
The VRA Awards Committee is extending the application deadline for the vrcHost Membership Awards until Friday, March 29th, 2024!
The VRA Awards Committee is extending the application deadline for the vrcHost Membership Awards until Friday, March 29th, 2024!
For consideration, please complete this short form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfpf48yDWuiea88k_yqllYjTDxztXC9iSoWlrMqBXOwDGBpQA/viewform
Updated timeline:
March 8 – Deadline for Completing the Google Form Application
March 29 - Deadline for Completing the Application
April 4 – Awards Committee Review Completed & Recommendation
April 5 – VRA Board Decision
April 8 – Notify Recipients
Award winners will be notified in early April in order to provide the recipients with membership in time to participate in VRA's professionals development and conference opportunities.
Any student or information worker interested in visual resources and image management is eligible to apply for a vrcHost Membership Award, including: new members; veteran members; international members; solo, isolated, and part-time VR professionals; students considering careers in visual resources; and any member with financial need. There is no limit to how many times a person can apply for or receive this award, but first consideration will be given to those who have not received this award in the past.
We are very grateful to our sponsor, vrcHost, a company that offers comprehensive solutions for the Madison Digital Image Database (MDID) project--installation, integration, hosting, customization, and software development--while also serving as the exclusive agent for the Archivision Research Library, which provides professional architecture and art photography with rich metadata.
Contact VRA Awards Committee members at vra.awards@gmail.com or me directly moaburns@gmail.com, if any questions arise.
Apply now! 2024 vrcHost Membership Awards
The VRA Awards Committee is thrilled to announce that the vrcHost Membership Awards received generous sponsorship for a second year! This award exists to engage new members in the Association and help existing members who might need financial assistance to retain their VRA membership.
The VRA Awards Committee is thrilled to announce that the vrcHost Membership Awards received generous sponsorship for a second year! This award exists to engage new members in the Association and help existing members who might need financial assistance to retain their VRA membership.
Our sponsor, vrcHost, is a company that offers comprehensive solutions for the Madison Digital Image Database (MDID) project--installation, integration, hosting, customization, and software development--while also serving as the exclusive agent for the Archivision Research Library, which provides professional architecture and art photography with rich metadata.
In 2024, vrcHost is providing funds for about 10-15 such awards, each of which will provide a one-year membership in the Visual Resources Association as well as in the VRA Regional Chapter of the recipient's choice. Membership in VRA confers benefits, including, but not limited to: discounts on continuing education and professional development; participation in community spaces, such as committees with leadership opportunities; and networking with colleagues via the VRA Listserv.
A simple application process is in place. For consideration, please complete this Google form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfpf48yDWuiea88k_yqllYjTDxztXC9iSoWlrMqBXOwDGBpQA/viewform
Be prepared to share your interest in the field of Visual Resources, how this award might benefit you and a resume or curriculum vitae.
On the timing front, please see the following goals:
March 8 – Deadline for Completing the Google Form Application
March 22 – Awards Committee Review Completed & Recommendation
April 5 – VRA Board Decision
April 8 – Notify Recipients
Any student or information worker interested in visual resources and image management is eligible to apply for a vrcHost Membership Award, including: new members; veteran members; international members; solo, isolated, and part-time VR professionals; students considering careers in visual resources; and any member with financial need.
There is no limit to how many times a person can apply for or receive this award, but first consideration will be given to those who have not received this award in the past.
Please spread the word about these awards to anyone you think might be interested and join us in thanking vrcHost for supporting new and existing VRA members with this wonderful award.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me directly at moaburns@gmail.com or the Awards Committee at vra.awards@gmail.com.
Announcing the Recipients of VRA Awards!
VRA is proud to announce its two highest honors presented at the 41st annual conference in San Antonio, Texas on September 27th, 2023!
VRA is proud to announce its two highest honors presented at the 41st annual conference in San Antonio, Texas on September 27th, 2023!
Distinguished Service Award
Each year, VRA honors an individual who has made an outstanding career contribution to the field with the Distinguished Service Award (DSA). The 2023 DSA was proudly presented to Greg Reser, University of California, San Diego’s Art Library Image Cataloger/Metadata Specialist (retired). Reser richly deserves the DSA for his metadata expertise, technical vision, advanced research, innovative developments, generous collaboration, and dedication to the field of Visual Resources
As nominators Jackie Spafford and Sonja Sekely-Rowland remarked, “It is hard to imagine where our field would be today were it not for Greg’s innovations, energy and generosity. His are the definition of ‘career contributions,’ with an ongoing impact and a legacy that others will continue to learn from and build on for years to come.”
Nomination Speech Transcript, Jackie Spafford and Sonja Sekely-Rowland
Honorary Life Membership Award
Special Honorary Life Memberships (HLM) are awarded to individuals by the Executive Board in recognition of eminent distinction in the field. The tenth ever HLM was presented to Jenni Rodda in recognition of her diligent leadership, generous mentorship, and outstanding, career-long dedication to the field of visual resources. Rodda was the Manager of Digital Media and Computer Services at the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University for 36 years, only having recently retired. In her acceptance speech, Jenni said, “speaking, writing, leading, mentoring, learning. These are the skills I honed through VRA. I hope the Association benefitted from my work; I know I benefitted from being a VRA member.”
Congratulations to the very deserving 2023 VRA Awards recipients and sincere thanks to their thoughtful nominators!
A full report of all the 2023 awards is scheduled for the next issue of the VRA Bulletin, Fall/Winter Vol. 50 No. 2 (2023).
VRA 2023: Save the date for the Awards Ceremony! ✨🏆✨
Please join the celebration of this year’s recipients of the VRA’s Honorary Life Members Award, Distinguished Service Award, and vrcHost Membership Awards at the Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, September 27th, 2023, at 5:00pm CDT.
This exciting event will be accessible on Zoom and in-person at the San Antonio conference. Non-conference attendees are also warmly invited to attend. If you would like to attend online but are not registered for the conference, please click the link below to register to attend the Awards Ceremony at no cost.
For more information about the Awards Committee, including descriptions of all the awards, lists of previous recipients, and requirements for nomination, please visit the Awards Committee webpage.
It isn’t too early to think ahead to next year. If you would you like to see someone recognized for significant contributions to the VR field, you may send an e-mail of intent or query to the Awards Committee, or you may complete the preliminary scouting form.
We look forward to celebrating with you!
The VRA Awards Committee
Announcing the Recipients of the vrcHost Membership Awards
The vrcHost Membership Awards provide a year of individual VRA membership, and chapter memberships of the recipient’s choice, with the full benefits of being a VRA member, including but not limited to: access to the VRA Listserv; opportunities to publish in the open access VRA Bulletin; discounted registration for the annual national VRA conference; continuing education opportunities; and other mentoring and networking opportunities. They are intended to provide VRA memberships to engage new members in the organization and to help existing members, who might need financial assistance to retain their VRA membership.
These new awards are sponsored by vrcHost, a company that offers comprehensive solutions for the Madison Digital Image Database (MDID) project--installation, integration, hosting, customization, and software development--while also serving as the exclusive agent for the Archivision Research Library, which provides professional architecture and art photography with rich metadata for educational purposes. VRA is grateful for this generous subvention.
The VRA Awards Committee is delighted to announce that twelve information professionals have been selected as recipients of the 2023 vrcHost Membership Awards. Congratulations to:
Ezekiel Amari McGee, University of California, Davis
Gina Caprari, San Francisco State University
Charlie P. Coffey, Wesleyan University
Jennifer Galipo, MLIS, SJSU
Joan Jocson-Singh, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
Peter Kaiser, Student, Pratt Institute
Gina Palumbo, Independent
Mimosa Shah, Harvard Radcliffe Institute
Molly Schoen, Fashion Institute of Technology
Michelle Schweickart, University of Dayton
Warner West, University of Richmond
and those still processing membership or wishing to remain anonymous.
Please join us in welcoming these new members to the Visual Resources Association and in thanking vrcHost for funding these inaugural awards.
With much appreciation,
VRA Awards Committee
Sarah Beck (Lafayette University)
Maureen Burns (IMAGinED Consulting & Archivision Associate)
Linda Callahan (Mount Holyoke College, retired)
Dawn Feavyour (Independent)
Marcia Focht (Binghamton University, retired)
Ann McShane (Emory University)
Summer Shetenhelm (Yale University)
Margaret Webster (Cornell University, retired)
and with special thanks to Alexandra Scholten (University of Chicago) from VREPS for providing valuable assistance on the planning subcommittee
VRA Awards Deadline Extended to Aug 14th!
Due to popular demand, the VRA Awards Committee is extending the deadline for the 2023 DSA and NDL award nominations to Monday, August 14th (extended from August 10th). With the conference approaching, we can't push it back more, but hope this is helpful to those who are working so hard to gather letters of support and bring nominations together.
Nominations should be sent to vra.awards@gmail.com and the extended information about the awards is below. The Awards Committee is here to support your efforts or answer any questions.
Your efforts are much appreciated,
Maureen Burns, Chair
VRA Awards Committee
The VRA Awards Committee is seeking nominations for the 2023 Distinguished Service Award and the Nancy DeLaurier Award.
The VRA Distinguished Service Award honors an individual who has made an outstanding career contribution to the field of visual resources and image management. Nominees must have achieved a level of distinction in the field either through leadership, research, or service to the profession. Nominees can also be considered for outstanding innovation, participation, or project management in visual resources.
The Nancy DeLaurier Award honors a single professional or a group of professionals for distinguished achievement in the field of visual resources. “Achievement” is measured by immediate impact, and may take the form of published works, oral presentations, digital humanities projects, open source solutions, software development, technology applications, website creations, or other outstanding efforts.
We encourage the VRA membership to consider the people and the tools that have made an impact on your work in visual resources: research, presentations, projects, publications, tools, technologies, and any other outstanding efforts.
For inspiration, the recent, past recipients for the Distinguished Service Award are:
Jolene de Verges in 2022
Marcia Focht in 2021
Robb Detlefs in 2019
Recent Nancy Delaurier Award winners and projects are as follows:
2022
Lael Ensor-Bennett and Kendra Werst for exceptional leadership on the Equitable Action Committee and for founding the innovative and inclusive Community Hour Discussion Series
Asfaneh Najmabadi for founding, guiding, developing, and sustaining the Women’s Worlds in Qajar Iran (WWQI) Digital Archive.
2021
Anna Bernhard and Heather Lowe for establishing and sustaining the Visual Resources Association’s Emerging Professionals and Students Group (VREPS).
Whom would you like to recognize for a specific contribution to our field? Please consider nominating a worthy colleague or specific achievement for these prestigious awards. Detailed information is available at: https://www.vraweb.org/awards. The Awards Committee is here to support your efforts or answer any questions.
Nominations should be submitted to the Awards Committee at vra.awards@gmail.com in the form of a dossier (all combined into one PDF). This dossier must include:
The nominee’s curriculum vitae
A cover letter of nomination describing how the nominee meets the criteria, written by the nominator(s)
Letters written in support of the nomination
Documentation in support of the nomination, if applicable
Electronic nominations via e-mail or a file hosting service such as Google Drive are preferred. Members of the VRA Awards Committee, upon reviewing submitted dossiers, make recommendations that are subject to approval by the VRA Executive Board.
The nomination letters and letters of support for the 2023 Distinguished Service Award and the 2023 Nancy DeLaurier Award are now due by Monday, August 14, 2023 (extended from Aug 10) and should be sent to: vra.awards@gmail.com.
Please contact Maureen Burns (moaburns@gmail.com) or any member of the Awards Committee if questions arise: Sarah Beck, Linda Callahan, Dawn Feavyour, Marcia Focht, Ann McShane, Summer Shetenhelm or Margaret Webster. We would be very happy to help with your ideas and the processes.
Notes:
Recommendations from the Awards Committee are subject to approval by the VRA Executive Board.
Current members of the VRA Awards Committee or the Executive Board should not write in support of nominations, nor should they be included in nominations.
Self-nominations are not accepted at this time.
It's VRA Awards Season! Call for Nominations 🥇
The VRA Awards Committee is seeking nominations for the 2023 Distinguished Service Award and the Nancy DeLaurier Award.
1) The VRA Distinguished Service Award honors an individual who has made an outstanding career contribution to the field of visual resources and image management. Nominees must have achieved a level of distinction in the field either through leadership, research, or service to the profession. Nominees can also be considered for outstanding innovation, participation, or project management in visual resources.
2) The Nancy DeLaurier Award honors a single professional or a group of professionals for distinguished achievement in the field of visual resources. “Achievement” is measured by immediate impact, and may take the form of published works, oral presentations, digital humanities projects, open-source solutions, software development, technology applications, website creations, or other outstanding efforts.
We encourage the VRA membership to consider the people and the tools that have made an impact on your work in visual resources: research, presentations, projects, publications, tools, technologies, and any other outstanding efforts.
For inspiration, the recent, past recipients for the Distinguished Service Award are:
Jolene de Verges in 2022
Marcia Focht in 2021
Robb Detlefs in 2019
Recent Nancy Delaurier Award winners and projects are as follows:
2022
Lael Ensor-Bennett and Kendra Werst for exceptional leadership on the Equitable Action Committee and for founding the innovative and inclusive Community Hour Discussion Series
Asfaneh Najmabadi for founding, guiding, developing, and sustaining the Women’s Worlds in Qajar Iran (WWQI) Digital Archive
2021
Anna Bernhard and Heather Lowe for establishing and sustaining the Visual Resources Association’s Emerging Professionals and Students Group (VREPS)
Whom would you like to recognize for a specific contribution to our field? Please consider nominating a worthy colleague or specific achievement for these prestigious awards.
How to apply:
Detailed information is available at: https://www.vraweb.org/awards. The Awards Committee is here to support your efforts or answer any questions. Nominations should be submitted to the Awards Committee at vra.awards@gmail.com in the form of a dossier (all combined into one PDF). This dossier must include:
The nominee’s curriculum vitae
A cover letter of nomination describing how the nominee meets the criteria, written by the nominator(s)
Letters written in support of the nomination
Documentation in support of the nomination, if applicable
Electronic nominations via e-mail or a file hosting service such as Google Drive are preferred. Members of the VRA Awards Committee, upon reviewing submitted dossiers, make recommendations that are subject to approval by the VRA Executive Board.
The nomination letters and letters of support for the 2023 Distinguished Service Award and the 2023 Nancy DeLaurier Award are due by Thursday, August 10, 2023 and should be sent to: vra.awards@gmail.com.
Please contact Maureen Burns (moaburns@gmail.com) or any member of the Awards Committee if questions arise: Sarah Beck, Linda Callahan, Dawn Feavyour, Marcia Focht, Ann McShane, Summer Shetenhelm or Margaret Webster. We would be very happy to help with your ideas and the processes.
Notes:
Recommendations from the Awards Committee are subject to approval by the VRA Executive Board.
Current members of the VRA Awards Committee or the Executive Board should not write in support of nominations, nor should they be included in nominations.
Self-nominations are not accepted at this time.
VRA Awards Scouting 2023
The VRA Awards Committee is scouting for potential nominators and nominees for the Distinguished Service (career achievement) and Nancy DeLaurier (project, publication, or other accomplishments) 2023 Awards to be conferred at the Annual Conference in San Antonio. To learn more about these awards, please see the Awards webpage.
If you would like to share your ideas about any deserving people or impactful projects, please complete this Google form.
Completing the online form is not a formal nomination, but a simple start that can be completed quickly to offer your ideas. The Awards Committee will follow-up with you about your suggestions and provide assistance with any potential full nominations later.
Although nominations need to be initiated by Visual Resources Association members, the nominees themselves do not need to be members of the organization.
Please consider contacting us about any colleagues deserving of recognition. We so welcome your ideas and suggestions sent on through the Google form or to our shared e-mail at vra.awards@gmail.com.
Press Release: 2022 VRA Award Recipients
PRESS RELEASEFor Immediate ReleaseContact: Visual Resources Association Online Address: http://vraweb.org/about/committees/awards-committee/
VISUAL RESOURCES ASSOCIATION PRESENTS 2022 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD TO JOLENE DE VERGES; NANCY DELAURIER AWARDS TO AFSANEH NAJMABADI FOR FOUNDING THE WOMEN’S WORLDS IN QAJAR IRAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE AND LAEL ENSOR-BENNETT AND KENDRA WERST FOR THEIR FOUNDATIONAL WORK WITH THE EQUITABLE ACTION COMMITTEE; AND AN HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS AWARD TO ALLAN T. KOHL.
BALTIMORE—The Visual Resources Association (VRA), a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to furthering research and education in the field of image management, proudly presented the 2022 Distinguished Service Award (DSA) to Jolene de Verges, Southern Methodist University’s (SMU) Director of the Jake and Nancy Hamon Arts Library, at the 40th annual Baltimore conference on March 31st. The VRA annually honors an individual who has made an outstanding career contribution to the field of visual resources and image management. DSA recipients have achieved a level of distinction through leadership, research, service to the profession, outstanding innovation, participation, or project management.
De Verges served twice on the Executive Board, as Secretary (2007-2009) and as President (2012-2014), and as Co-Chair of the Strategic Plan Task Force (2016-2017). On the Board, de Verges’ noteworthy combination of innovative vision and gentle pragmatism helped guide the Association toward new partnerships, areas of programming, administrative procedures and investment policies to promote the Association’s financial health. She helped raise VRA’s visibility by strengthening relationships with like-minded organizations and shepherding the creation of the International Chapter. A model collaborator in resource-sharing projects, de Verges oversaw VRA’s formal affiliation with the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) and supported their SAHARA project. She helped expand VRA’s programming to support emerging areas of practice and scholarship, such as digital humanities, visual literacy, and video. Her Board created the External Speakers Fund, which provided additional incentives to attract new, non-member conference presenters in order to diversify the perspectives shared at VRA’s Annual Conferences.This tireless work for VRA is only surpassed by her stellar professional career and educational experience–she holds advanced degrees in library and information science as well as art history. De Verges currently is the well-respected director of the SMU’s Arts Library overseeing a staff of subject librarians, special collections, and access and operations staff. She previously held library and visual resources positions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Smith College, the Worcester Art Museum and Quinsigamond Community College. De Verges’ generous spirit of mentorship has extended to many emerging professionals and students.De Verges richly deserves the DSA for her vision, leadership, mentorship, service and dedication to the field of visual resources. John Trendler, current VRA President, stated: “I had the distinct pleasure of serving on the executive board during Jolene’s presidency. She presided with compassion for the association; calmly moving initiatives and discussions with grace and agility. Congratulations to Jolene on this well-deserved award.”The Nancy DeLaurier Awards (NDL), named for one of the pioneers of the Visual Resources profession, honors distinguished achievement in the field of image management. “Achievement" is measured by immediate impact and may take the form of published work, oral presentation, project management, software development, technology application, website creation, or other outstanding effort. Two NDL awards were bestowed on March 31st in Baltimore.
The 1st NDL award went to Afsaneh Najmabadi, Harvard University’s Francis Lee Higginson Professor of History and Women, Gender, and Sexuality, for founding, guiding, developing and sustaining the Women’s Worlds in Qajar Iran (WWQI) Digital Archive.WWQI focuses on collecting and making available digital images of Qajar era (1796 – 1925) primary source materials that were created by or are relevant to the lives of women, or that address issues of gender during this period. In 2009, after several years of developing the idea for WWQI, Najmabadi, along with four other Qajar scholars (Nahid Mozaffari, Dominic Brookshaw, Naghmeh Sohrabi, and Manoutchehr Eskandari--Qajar), received WWQI’s first major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.Since then, Najmabadi has been the Principal Investigator for this project and has provided overall leadership for all aspects of WWQI. In addition to setting the work’s intellectual direction and supervising the activities of the project, she has led the efforts in developing and maintaining relationships with external collaborators (particularly museums and archives) and has carried out a portion of the work with individual families, who have donated to the archive. She also manages the Harvard-based portion of the work.The WWQI Digital Archive uses digital technology to overcome the challenges of geography, politics and ownership to piece together a richer, more nuanced and complete picture of the transformative Qajar era. For these extended efforts, which have significantly enhanced research and teaching in Iranian history and many other disciplines resulting in the inclusion of 214 collections, 10,266 texts and 51,331 images in WWQI, VRA is honored to bestow this award on Professor Najmabadi.
The 2nd NDL award was bestowed on Lael Ensor-Bennett, Johns Hopkins University’s Curator, Visual Resources Collection, and Kendra Werst, formerly Williams College’s Assistant Visual Resources Curator, now a Flower and Vegetable Farmer at Bluebird Meadows in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina, for their foundational work with the VRA Equitable Action Committee (EAC) and the innovative Community Hour programming.In response to growing calls for a “diversity committee” in recent years, Ensor-Bennett and Werst stepped up to form VRA’s Equitable Action Committee. As co-chairs, Ensor-Bennett and Werst gathered a diverse group of VRA members to accomplish the following: identify actionable initiatives; support equity and inclusion as well as underrepresented and minoritized members; educate and empower VRA members on topics related to accessibility and disability inclusion; and advise the Executive Board on matters related to equity. They have demonstrated dynamic leadership abilities, shown a welcoming spirit of collaboration, and developed important equity guidance for VRA as well as pertinent, accessible programming.One of the most important programs implemented under Ensor-Bennett and Werst’s leadership is the ongoing Community Hour discussion series. These gatherings are low-pressure virtual meetings that have allowed VRA members across the country to address pressing matters and check in on one another throughout the pandemic and beyond. It has created a space for members to talk about local challenges and to support one another. EAC programming has covered everything from critical cataloging to accessibility and equity in online instruction; from unionizing to mutual aid; from salary transparency to institutional responses to Black Lives Matter. Many sessions have invited both VRA member experts and external authorities to discuss a wide range of timely, pressing topics. The EAC has also worked with VREPS to provide programming specifically addressing concerns for those who are just starting their VR careers. They take extensive anonymized notes for their programs, ensuring privacy for attendees while inviting those unable to join Community Hour gatherings to still participate.For founding the EAC and establishing a spectacular model for how to support colleagues in an efficient and inclusive manner, Ensor-Bennett and Werst richly deserve the NDL, one of VRA’s highest honors. As their nominator, Andrew Wang stated, “They’ve truly breathed new life into VRA by providing leadership opportunities, representing some of the most marginalized members of our community both within and beyond VRA, and modeling ethical practices within our profession.”Special Honorary Life memberships (SHLM) are awarded to Individuals, designated representatives of an Institution, Contributing or Patron members by the Executive Board in recognition of eminent distinction in any of the fields of the Association’s purpose. Honorary Life members are not required to pay dues and they have all the privileges of Individual members.
The 2022 Honorary Life Members Award was presented to Allan T. Kohl, Minneapolis College of Art & Design’s Librarian, Visual Resources and Library Instruction, in recognition of generous philanthropy, outstanding service and career-long dedication to the field of visual resources.Kohl is a familiar face in VRA with an extensive VRA service record and a big conference presence, as witnessed at the Baltimore 2022 conference and many before it. But, what makes him extraordinary is his heartfelt devotion to VRA and that he has no intention of slowing down. He continues to keep his hand in many VRA activities by choice. Among his numerous accomplishments are: extensive service on the VRA Board, committees, task forces, etc.; support of conference activities, especially fundraising activities and entertainment; major philanthropy funding the New Horizons travel awards for many years; progressive research, scholarship, presentations and publications; and valuable open resource development with Art Images for College Teaching.This Honorary Life Members Award comes at a perfect time in Kohl’s career to acknowledge his extraordinary dedication, terrific service, many kindnesses and abundant generosity to VRA. It provides a way to demonstrate the gratitude of the Association and its members for his Herculean efforts over many years. Kohl has now received the full VRA awards trifecta–Distinguished Service, DeLaurier, and Honorary Life Member Awards–and is so very deserving of them all.Congratulations to all of the 2022 VRA award recipients and thank you to the nominators.Award Ceremony Recording