Candidates: 2021 Samvera Board Election

Annual Election for three, three-year terms 2021-2024

Jeremy Friesen

Research & Development Technology Engineer, University of Notre Dame's Hesburgh Libraries

I work at the University of Notre Dame's Hesburgh Libraries. I'm part of a newly formed Strategic Innovation Lab, our purpose is to "focus on the 2 to 5 year range for how the Hesburgh Libraries can position itself to meet changing campus stakeholder needs." I have also contributed to our institutional repository efforts, managed a team of developers, built organizational coalitions, and worked to foster equitable and inclusive processes.

In Samvera, I have worked in and on the software development cycle; Contributing code, documentation, reviews, design discussions, facilitating working groups, process improvements, tech calls, and more. I've also participated in and facilitated Samvera Partner meetings. I have observed the community at work at many levels, and appreciate its values of openness and inclusion.

This past year has reinforced my deeply held belief that community-oriented processes and solutions are our collective way forward. I am eager and excited to further and continue my contributions to Samvera. I will bring three key things: A current contributing software developers perspective; a passion for a community that understands inclusion and diversity requires ongoing action; and an ability to build coalitions through listening and growing shared visions.

Harriett Green

Associate University Librarian for Digital Scholarship and Technology Services, Washington University Libraries

At Washington University in St. Louis, I am the Associate University Librarian for the Digital Scholarship and Technology Services division: In this role, I direct the strategic activities and initiatives for the division, and oversee the Libraries’ departments for research data and GIS services, information technology, digital repository services, and scholarly communications. Washington University Libraries has been a Samvera Partner since 2016, and I have served as a WUSTL representative to Samvera Partners since arriving at the university in 2018.
We have steadily grown our involvement in Samvera during the 5 years of our membership, notably as the host institution of the Samvera Connect 2019 conference, my service on the Membership Contribution Model task force, and several WashU colleagues have served on Connect Planning committees and the Developer Congress.
As we expand our technical commitment to Samvera with the fall 2021 re-launch of our Open Scholarship repository in Hyrax, I am standing for election to the Samvera Board in order to engage more deeply with colleagues on building open, community-driven technical infrastructure for cultural heritage institutions. I would approach my work on the Board with the collaborative openness that Samvera is known for, and I hope to contribute useful viewpoints from the perspective of a smaller institution. I look forward to this opportunity and thank you for considering my candidacy.

Kevin Kochanski

Client Liaison, Notch8

In my role as Client Liaison at Notch8, I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to engage in the Samvera Community for almost three years. In addition to my current role as Board member, I serve as chair of the Hyku Interest Group, and participate in a number of Community efforts, including the Safety Working Group, Partner calls, and multiple Connect/Virtual Connect planning committees.

As a community service provider, Notch8 has the opportunity to interact with potential Samvera adopters in a way that many Community institutions may not. Serving on the Board gives me the opportunity to more effectively liaise with institutions who may not otherwise be engaged with the Community, as well as to share a perspective with the Board (and in other Community venues) that comes from conversations with those institutions.

My first term as a Board member was initiated following the sad circumstances of Julie Allinson’s death, and I was honored to serve as member fulfilling the duration of Julie’s term. Following a year largely occupied with the change in fiscal sponsorship, I would welcome the opportunity to continue to serve and engage in a broader variety of topics and community challenges as Board member.

It may be part of my job, but it also gives me enormous personal satisfaction to interact with and support the Samvera Community. I welcome your support in serving a second term as Board member.

Rosalyn Metz

Associate Dean, Library Technology and Digital Strategies, Emory University

I am the Associate Dean for Library Technology and Digital Strategies at Emory University in Atlanta. Here I lead a diverse cross-functional team that provides technology support for the Emory’s libraries. I am currently a member of the Samvera Board and Samvera Helpers. In the past I’ve been active in a number of working groups, primarily those around governance. I’m also a member of Fedora Leaders and Fedora Steering, and a member of the OCFL Editorial Board.

Over the last three years I’ve collaborated with the members of Samvera Steering to continue to advance the community. If elected, I look forward to continuing that work.