SteveManess

Master of Arts | 2016

Photo: Steve Maness

Job : Archivist, Air Force Research Laboratory - Phillips Research Site, Kirtland Air Force Base
Location : Albuquerque, New Mexico

What were you involved in while at UNM?
First Graduate Assistant in Museum Studies Program (Prior to formal state approval of the new Master's program) D. H. Lawrence Ranch Project, Center for Southwest Research & UNM Archives In-Situ Project Antoine Predock Architectural Collection Project, Center for Southwest Research In-Situ Project Internship with Explora! Children's Science Museum, Albuquerque Emerging Museum Professionals Fellowship, American Alliance of Museums (2014) Maxwell Museum of Anthropology Practicum (Researched, Developed, Created "K-12 Visitor Activity Backpack" Graduate Professional Student Association's Grant Committee (and Co-Chair) Faculty Senate Library Committee, Graduate Student Professional Association Representative Pilot Internship, The Grants Collective (A Non-profit branch of The Grant Plant), Albuquerque Co-Founding Father of the First New Mexico Chapter of Delta Lambda Phi Gay Men's Fraternity Order of Omega Academic Leadership Honor Society for Fraternity Members Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society (inducted 2012)

What's a favorite memory or class from your time in the program?
Two Memories: Helping Museum Studies Director, Dr. Loa Traxler, unbox her books and getting the Museum Studies Program up and running (I'm a complete bibliophile and was in love with her collection!). And, presenting grantwriting seminars to students in Latin American Studies Program.

What are you doing now and what have been some of your professional highlights?
I am currently Archivist at Air Force Research Laboratory on Kirtland Air Force Base where I care for both documents and objects, equally serving the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. I also serve as Outreach to both on-base directorates and in the community, in addition to periodically curate internal exhibits and educational presentations or serving as content area specialist for directorates

How has your Latin American Studies degree informed your work?
My MALAS degree has informed the protocols that I follow in caring for a variety of controlled information and objects. The outstanding training in Material Culture and Cultural Anthropology of the Ancient Americas with Dr. Margaret Jackson (Art History) and Dr. Loa Traxler (Museum Studies) serves as a very sturdy foundation and active critical thinking I employ daily in the course of my duties for both the Air Force and Space Force.

Any additional comments you'd like to add?
A graduate program is only as beneficial and pragmatic as the academic investment and purposeful engagement a student chooses to incorporate into it. LAII is situated, academically and geographically, in a position that affords an abundance of rich opportunities that cut accross departments, organizations and activities, on campus and in the community.