Valdosta State University’s Deborah Davis becomes certifiedarchivist

Deborah S. Davis, Valdosta State University archivist, is officially recognized as a certified archivist by the Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA).

Davis is one of 885 archivists professionally certified both nationally and internationally by ACA, an organization which defines standards for the archival profession and certifies archivists through an eight-part examination. Archivists must first hold a master’s degree and have the required years of professional experience before beginning the process.

At VSU’s Odum Library, Davis serves as an agent of the present and the past for the future, which includes the professional preservation of important university collections. Davis said, in the past five years VSU’s archives have grown from their small location under the library stairway to modern, roomy archives with special climate controls and a secure vault.

“We have doubled our collections in that period and have won a state-wide Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board award for our educational program,” said Davis.

The newly acquired professional certification allows Davis to master all areas of archival practice and allows her to service individuals and groups from inside and outside the university’s campus.

Though over 20 certified archivists reside in Georgia, almost all are in the Atlanta area. With Davis’s archival certification, VSU has the potential for the strongest archival program between Tallahassee and Macon, an appropriate accomplishment for a regional university.