Taronda Spencer Award

Taronda Spencer was a member of the Society of Georgia Archivists (SGA) for 15 years. She served on the Board of SGA and was a perennial contributor to SGA’s many scholarship funds. Her most notable work with the organization involved bringing the annual meeting to her alma mater, Spelman College, in 2006. Ms. Spencer served as a mentor to many students (including past SGA scholarship winners) and personally influenced multiple Spelman students to enter the profession. She was also an active organizer of the HBCU Archives Institute, a charter member of the Academy of Certified Archivists, and served as Chair of SAA's Archivists and Archives of Color Roundtable, as well as a member of the Nominating Committee. To honor her work in encouraging students at HBCUs and students of color to consider careers in the archival profession, the Society of Georgia Archivists established the Taronda Spencer Award in 2014 to support student attendance at the SGA Annual Meeting.

The Annual Meeting registration fee for the successful 2024 Spencer Award applicant will be waived by the Society of Georgia Archivists. Additionally, the recipient of the award will also receive a $150 credit to apply to a Society of American Archivists (SAA) class or a purchase in the SAA bookstore. 

Information about the SGA Annual Meeting can be found here.

Please note: The award winner is responsible for submitting their conference registration form by the required deadline. After the conference, the recipient will submit a brief article on their experience for publication in the SGA Blog.

Eligibility

Individuals eligible to compete for the award are those currently enrolled as a junior or senior at an HBCU with a demonstrated interest in Archives -or- students of African-American, Asian/Pacific-Islander, Latino, or Native American descent currently enrolled in a graduate program with a component in archival studies. Applicants for the award may apply with or without additional nomination(s) from professors, colleagues, etc. 

To Apply

Please fill out the online portion of the application for the Taronda Spencer Award.

Then, to complete your application email your resume or CV and cover letter to scholarships@soga.org. Your application is not complete until these documents have been received. Complete applications including cover letter and CV or resume must be received by August 31, 2024, 11:59 p.m. ET.

For additional information, please contact scholarships@soga.org. 

Please click here to submit a donation online to the Taronda Spencer Award.