Mentoring Spotlight: Allan Kohl
Allan Kohl is the Librarian, Visual Resources and Library Instruction, at Minneapolis College of Art & Design (MCAD), and has been a VRA member for 26 years.Can you tell us a little bit about your background, and how you got into the field of visual resources?Over the past half-century, I’ve been a high school English teacher; then “Audio-Visual Services Librarian” in my first higher education job; then slide librarian and adjunct instructor in art history here at MCAD, gradually evolving into my current position, which is closer to many aspects of traditional library work, along with helping to manage the College's Archives.Which VRA mentoring activities did you participate in recently?Conference Mentor, Year-Round Mentor, and Year-Round Mentor for the Midwest Chapter Student Membership Scholarship Award.What services did you provide during your mentoring activities?Networking, professional guidance, and VRA Midwest Chapter Student Membership Scholarship Award mentoring. The latter seemed like a natural fit, in that I’m part of the selection committee for this award, and in looking over the applications I sometimes see specific ways I might help an applicant, based on that person’s career objectives.Briefly tell us about who you were matched with.I have tended to be matched with individuals who may be completing graduate degrees while also working at least part-time (on granted projects, etc.).What was your motivation for participating in the mentoring activities?Recruiting new, younger members to VRA to refresh our membership base, and helping first-time conferees have a rewarding experience.What aspects of the activities did you find the most valuable, and why?The opportunity to answer questions one-on-one. This is similar to what I do in reference work as part of my MCAD Library job, and it’s a natural segue into helping younger professionals navigate their integration into a peer community.Do you have any words of advice or wisdom for any of our members who may be thinking about participating in VRA's mentoring activities?Try it -- you'll like it!
You can meet Allan at VRA 2020 in Baltimore! Want to learn more about becoming a VRA mentor? Visit our Mentorship page! httpS://vraweb.org/opportunities/mentorship/Have you had a great VRA mentoring experience? We would love to hear about it! Contact the Mentor Coordinator to find out to share your story here!
Mentoring Spotlight: Kendra Long
Kendra Long is the Archivist at 4S Bay Partners, and has been a VRA member since April/May of 2019.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background, and how you got (or hope to get) into the field of visual resources?
I finished my masters of library science in May of 2019. My undergrad was in film production, and I worked as a researcher on feature films until I got burned out from working freelance after a few years. I knew I wanted to stay in film or at least visual media at large, but I needed something full time and consistent. I ended up going back to school for my MLS in archives with the goal of being a film archivist.
Which VRA mentoring activity did you participate in recently?
Year-Round Mentee.
What outcomes did you seek during your mentoring activity?
Networking, professional guidance, and resume and cover letter reviews.
Briefly tell us about who you were matched with.
I was matched with Kendra Werst, who is the Assistant Visual Resources Curator at Williams College.
What was your motivation for participating in the mentoring activity?
The only people I had to bounce ideas off of or to seek advice on the job hunt from were other students in the same position as me -- looking for work, uncertain how to find a job that respected me, unsure if I was qualified for anything.
What aspects of the activity did you find the most valuable, and why?
Honestly just being able to chat with Kendra through Slack has been huge. She's looked over my resume probably a dozen times now, and has reviewed basically every cover letter I've submitted since she became my mentor, and having the perspective of somebody my age who's already gotten a job has made a huge difference. I can ask her anything about the job hunt or working in the field and she's always there to answer me.
Do you have any words of advice or wisdom for any of our members who may be thinking about participating in VRA's mentoring activities?
You don't need to have 25 years of experience under your belt to be a mentor. Being around just to bounce ideas off of is enough. I'm incredibly grateful to what Kendra's been able to help me through.
You can meet Kendra at VRA 2020 in Baltimore!
Need some guidance in the Visual Resources field? Let our mentors show you the ropes! Visit our VRA Mentorship page to learn more! httpS://vraweb.org/opportunities/mentorship
Have you had a great VRA mentoring experience? We would love to hear about it! Contact the Mentor Coordinator to find out to share your story here!
Mentoring Spotlight: Kendra Werst
Kendra Werst is the Assistant Visual Resources Curator at Williams College, and has been a VRA member for 4 years.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background, and how you got into the field of visual resources?
I have a BFA in Sculpture and Art History from the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI). While at KCAI, I worked at the Jannes Library which inspired me to combine my love for information and art. I successfully completed my Masters in Library Science at Indiana University - Bloomington in 2017, specializing in Digital Collections and Art Librarianship. I had wonderful mentors (Jasmine Burns and Kristina Keogh) who helped guide me to the visual resources field.
Which VRA mentoring activities did you participate in recently?
Conference Mentor, and Year-Round Mentor.
What services did you provide during your mentoring activities?
Networking, and professional guidance. I correspond with my mentees either by email, phone, or Slack. I ask them questions related to their professional goals or concerns as well as how they are doing as a human on this earth.
Briefly tell us about who you were matched with.
Year-Round Mentees: Katherina Fostano - Digital & Visual Resources Curator at Fordham University. Squirrel Walsh - Special Collections Assistant, Princeton University. Kendra Long - Archivist at 4S BAY. Conference Mentees: (2019) Katelyn Harper - MLIS Candidate at University of Washington Information School. (2018) Arden Kirkland - Adjunct, School of Information Studies at Syracuse University; Project Coordinator, Design for Learning Program; Independent Digital Librarian.
What was your motivation for participating in the mentoring activities?
Through my lived experience as an adoptee and person of color, I know what it's like to be on the outside. I also understand the importance of finding supportive, engaging, and safe communities. During graduate school, I was lucky enough to have positive mentors to help me navigate the visual resources and librarianship field. It's important to me that I pay it forward by mentoring others. Being a mentor also allows me to stay in touch with the realities and challenges of those who are entering into the field. This gives me the opportunity to assist in creating an inclusive culture in our field. I believe a professional organization is only as strong as the commitment of its members to the organization's success. Mentorships also create lasting friendships and connections, which I believe makes the organization stronger.
Do you have any words of advice or wisdom for any of our members who may be thinking about participating in VRA's mentoring activities?
Do it!
You can meet Kendra at VRA 2020 in Baltimore!
Want to learn more about becoming a VRA mentor? Visit our Mentorship page! httpS://vraweb.org/opportunities/mentorship/
Have you had a great VRA mentoring experience? We would love to hear about it! Contact the Mentor Coordinator to find out to share your story here!
Member Benefit: VRA Year Round Mentor Program
Did you know one of the benefits of VRA membership includes networking and professional guidance opportunities through the Year Round Mentor Program? Keep reading ...Year Round Mentor ProgramThis fun and collegial program matches mentors (VRA members for 3 years or more who are reasonably well acquainted with the Association) with mentees (any VRA member seeking new connections within the Association or professional guidance from peers), at any time during the year.How does it work?Mentees: Your mentor will contact you via phone or email. If living close by, your mentor may make arrangements to meet you in person, if that is possible. Your mentor will talk to you about the local VRA chapter (if there is one in the area), and invite you to the chapter meetings. Your mentor will make introductions, make you feel welcome to the Association, and answer questions or provide guidance on matters related to visual resources concerns that they feel qualified to counsel on.Mentors: Contact your mentee via phone or email. If living close by, make arrangements to meet them in person, if that is possible. Talk about the local VRA chapter (if there is one in the area), and invite your mentee to the chapter meetings. Make introductions, make them feel welcome to the Association, and answer questions or provide guidance on matters related to visual resources concerns that you feel qualified to counsel on.How long does it last?While we hope that many mentors will form lasting professional associations with their mentee, the mentoring commitment can be understood to consist of a few phone calls to field questions, a face to face meeting if that is possible, and invitations and introductions at local chapter meetings or at the Annual Conference. This type of commitment can be discharged within 1 to 6 months depending upon the schedule of the local chapter or Annual Conference.How do I sign up?Potential Mentors and Mentees are asked to complete a questionnaire. This will assist the Mentor Coordinator in making the best match possible. The first priority will be to match members within the same local chapter. Members outside the area of a local chapter will be matched with the next best suitable member.Mentee Applicationhttps://docs.google.com/forms/