Rebecca Hankins is an Associate Professor and a certified archivist/librarian. She has been at Texas A&M University since 2003, receiving tenure in 2010. She was elected to the prestigious Society of American Archivists’ Distinguished Fellows in 2016 and holds the Wendler Endowed Professorship at Texas A&M University’s Libraries. In December of 2016, U. S. President Barack Hussein Obama appointed her to the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), the funding arm of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), a 3-year position. Her research intersects with her professional work that centers on the African Diaspora, Women & Gender Studies, and the use of popular culture as a pedagogical methodology that offers new approaches to the study of Islam. In 2016 her book, co-authored with Miguel Juarez, Ph. D., was published by Library Juice Press titled “Where are All the Librarians of Color: The Experiences of People of Color in Academia.”

She chaired the Diversity Advancement Committee in the library where she challenged both the library and archives to think more deeply about identity, representation, diversity, and inclusiveness. Her work in furthering diversity and inclusion on campus includes collaborating with a number of student groups, faculty, institutes, departments, and staff. She has written other works on diversity dealing with residency programs, Black feminist writers, oral history, and religion. Overall her research, presentations, and publishing activities have resulted in one monograph, 30+ publications (articles, book chapters, essays), 80+ presentations, a number of collaborative research projects and grant proposals.

She has spoken in front of audiences of two to audiences of over 700. One of her most recent speaking engagements was for Texas A&M University’s Tenth Annual MLK, Jr. Breakfast. She was chosen by the Woodson Black Awareness Committee, the student group that has sponsored this very prestigious event, to be the conversant for the program titled “A Conversation with Ruby Bridges.” There were over 750 in attendance and the feedback was wonderful with some saying it was the best program in the 10 year history of the event. She was also chosen to be the featured speaker at the Dinner with a Prof event put on by the University’s Residence Life department with over 70 students in attendance. She has presented at numerous conferences, symposiums, and universities, and was a featured speaker for Prairie View A&M University where her subject was the Archival Imperative: The Importance of Preserving Your Historical Records given to an audience both in person and streaming online.

Personal Statement:

I have a passion for the work I do in the library and archive. Diversity and inclusion are not just tacked on to my work, but they are infused and are foundational to my career as a librarian and archivist. As I always tell students “pick your battles throughout your career.” I choose diversity as one of my necessary battles!

Location: Texas

Keywords = Library, Archive, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Pluralism, Race, Ethnicity, African American, Africana, Religion, Gender, Women’s Studies, Feminism, Womanism, Civil Rights

$ Speaking Fee (negotiable)

Willing to Travel

Carson Williams

Las Cruces, New Mexico
Gabrielle Barnes

Windsor, Connecticut
K.T. Vaughan

Lexington, Virginia
Twanna Hodge

Gainesville, Florida