CV describing 11 years of progressively responsible experience in special collections and archives, and 30 years of managing projects, budgets, and staff.

1. CURRICULUM VITAE
Sonia Yaco
701 S. Carpenter St. Unit C | Chicago Illinois 60607
(608) 234-0012 | syaco@uic.edu
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Asst. Professor and Special Collections Librarian, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 2013-
present.
Provide leadership for Special Collections and University Archives at Richard J. Daley Library and Library of
Health Sciences. Engage staff in developing and implementing strategic initiatives priorities and unit goals in
line with the University Library’s mission. Oversee the acquisition, processing, cataloging, and preservation
activities of manuscripts, rare books, university archives, maps, and records management staff. Build the
collection to meet and anticipate stakeholder needs. Develop and direct instructional and outreach activities.
Work with the development staff to identify and pursue external funding sources. Establish and cultivate donor
relationships. Collaborate with development and communication staff to actively promote Special Collections
and University Archives to the campus and scholarly and public communities. Facilitate physical and virtual
exhibits and associated donor events. Identify and pursue grant opportunities. Cultivate external relationships
with University faculty to assess needs, develop and deliver value-added services, and promote collaborations.
Work with Digital Programs and Services staff to enhance discovery and digital access to Special Collections
and University materials. Foster and contribute to collaborations across Chicago academic and cultural
institutions.
Asst. Professor, Courtesy appointment, History Department, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois,
2016-present. Contribute to the research and service missions of the department.
Dissertation advisor, Centre for Archive and Information Studies, University of Dundee, Scotland, 2015-2016.
Guide Family and Local History Master of Letters (MLitt) student through research proposal and dissertation.
Special Collections Librarian and University Archivist, Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old
Dominion University, Norfolk Virginia, 2007-2013.
Responsibilities included collection development, acquisition, preservation and organization of collections;
supervision and management of unit staff, interns and volunteers; donor cultivation, archival management, and
intellectual access to the collections. Provided bibliographic instruction to undergraduate and graduate students.
Bibliographer for Women’s Studies and Tidewater History Collection. Worked with faculty to incorporate
Special Collections into their specialized curriculum. In collaboration with Digital Services staff and music
archivist, developed and implemented digitization plan for Libraries. Created physical and virtual exhibits.
Founded the Desegregation of Virginia Education (DOVE) project, a statewide collaborative documentation,
oral history, and preservation project.
Consultant, Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary,
Williamsburg Virginia, January 2007.
Provided consultation on a variety of digitization and computer projects including streamlining the EAD
workflow, creating an image management protocol and scanning, developed a plan to digitize 500,000 catalog
cards.
Reference Archivist, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison Wisconsin, 2005-2007.
Provided reference for a diverse clientele including hobbyists and international academics for the McCormick -
International Harvester Collection, consisting of 4,000 cubic feet of personal papers and corporate records.
Selected and cataloged photographic images for commercial online sales on the Society's web page using
1

2. ContentDM. Appraised, processed, and wrote finding aids for manuscript collections. Initiated project and
wrote software to convert legacy finding aids to EAD format.
President, Anlex Computer Consulting LLC, 1985-2009. Designed and developed databases and data driven
web sites for libraries, educational institutions, nonprofit agencies, and Fortune 500 companies in Wisconsin
and Illinois. Programmed in low-level languages, markup languages, e-commerce packages, and end-user
applications. Conducted functional needs analyses; recommended appropriate hardware, software, policies, and
procedures. Provided expertise for digitization projects and developed stand-alone digitization products.
EDUCATION:
Master of Arts, Library and Information Studies (with 18 credit Specialization in Archives and Records
Administration). University of Wisconsin-Madison
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology. Graduation with Academic Distinction. University of Wisconsin-Madison
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
Archives Leadership Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Cultural Heritage Certificate in Digitizing. Humanities Advanced Technology and Information Institute
(HATII), University of Glasgow, Scotland
PUBLICATIONS:
Yaco, Sonia, Saleha Rizvi, and Arkalgud Ramaprasad. “Cultural Heritage Curriculum Crosswalk: Using
metadata to connect to curriculum.” In Organization, Representation, and Description through the Digital Age:
Information in Libraries, Archives, and Museums. De Gruyter Saur, (Forthcoming 2016).
Yaco, Sonia. “Not Just The Fire Hoses And The Marches: Developing A Model For User Centered Community
Archives.” Peer-reviewed research paper. Chicago Illinois: Society of American Archivists (2015).
Yaco, Sonia. Review of "Identity Palimpsests: Archiving Ethnicity in the U. S. and Canada," The American
Archivist 78 no. 1 (2015): 269-272
Suh, Yonghee, Brandon Butler and Sonia Yaco, "Integrating Oral History into a Social Studies Course: Lessons
Learned." Museumedu 2 (2015): 101-108. Also published in Oral History, Museums and Education, edited by I.
Nakou and A, Gazi, 223-231. Athens: Nissos: Greek Oral History Association, 2015 [Greek language].
Yaco, Sonia. Ann Jimerson, Laura Caldwell Anderson and Chanda Temple. “A Web-Based Community-
Building Archives Project: A Case Study of Kids in Birmingham 1963.” Archival Science 15 no. 4 (2015):399-
427, doi: 10.1007/s10502-015-9246-4
Yaco, Sonia. “The Venus Fly Trap: The Lure and Pitfalls of Digitizing Moving Image Collections.” Research
report. Chicago Illinois: Society of American Archivists (2014).
Yaco, Sonia and Beatriz Hardy. “A Documentation Case Study: The Desegregation of Virginia Education
(DOVE) Project.” In Through the archival looking glass: a reader on diversity and inclusion, edited by Mary
Caldera and Kathryn K. Neal, 143-176. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2014.
Yaco, Sonia, Robert Sawyers, Robert Vay, and Ann Jimerson. “Desegregation of Virginia Education (DOVE)
On The Eastern Shore: What We Learned When We Got There.” Research paper. Chicago Illinois: Society of
American Archivists (2013).
2

3. Yaco, Sonia and Beatriz Hardy. “Historians, Archivists, and Social Activism: Benefits and Costs,” Archival
Science 13 no. 2-3 (2013): 253–272.
Yaco, Sonia and Beatriz Hardy. “Archivists, Social Activism, and Professional Ethics.” Research paper.
Chicago Illinois: Society of American Archivists. (2012).
Yaco, Sonia. “How to Conduct a Records Survey,” [tutorial] (2010).
Yaco, Sonia. “Balancing Privacy and Access in School Desegregation Collections: A Case Study." The
American Archivist 73 no. 2 (2010): 637-668.
Yaco, Sonia. “Documenting the Struggle for Integrated Virginia Schools: A Case Study,” in The Nature of
University and Research Institution Archives: An international perspective: Proceedings of the section on
university and research institution archives and the fourth meeting on scientific archives. (Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil: ICA/SUV, 2010): 22-28.
Yaco, Sonia and Tonia Graves. “Mapping the Desegregation of Education in Virginia: Where are the records?”
Virginia Libraries 55 no. 4 (2009): 9-10.
Newby-Alexander, Cassandra, Jeffrey Littlejohn, Charles H. Ford, Sonia Yaco, & the Norfolk Historical
Society. Hampton Roads: Remembering Our Schools. Charleston, SC: History Press, (2009).
Yaco, Sonia. “It's Complicated: Barriers to EAD Implementation,” The American Archivist 71 no. 2 (2008):
456- 475.
Yaco, Sonia. “Archivists and Technology,” in Archives, Records, and the User: The Changing Nature of
University and Scientific Archives in the 21st Century: Proceedings of International Council on Archives-
Section on University and Research Institution Archives. (Dundee, Scotland: ICA/SUV, 2008).
Yaco, Sonia. “The Potential for Use of Voice Recognition Software in Appraisal and Transcription of Oral
History Tapes,” ARSC (Association for Recorded Sound Collections) Journal 38 no. 2 (2007): 214-225
SUBMITTED PUBLICATIONS:
Yaco, Sonia, Arkalgud Ramaprasad, and Saleha Rizvi. “Envisioning the Semiotics of Cultural Heritage
Artifacts.” (Submitted to the International Conference on Culture & Computer Science, Namibia June 2016)
Yaco, Sonia, Arkalgud Ramaprasad, and Saleha Rizvi. “Cultural Heritage and Curriculum Crosswalk: An
Ontological Framework.” (Submitted to ACM Journal of Computing and Cultural Heritage June 2016)
Yaco, Sonia, Caroline Brown, and Lee Konrad. “Linking Special Collections to Classrooms: A Curriculum to
Collection Crosswalk.” (Submitted to The American Archivist May 2016)
WORKS IN PROGRESS:
Bronstad, Laura Kristina, Sonia Yaco, and Rebecca Hankins. “What Do You Need? A Survey of Archivists
Working With Community Archives.”
Yaco, Sonia and Arkalgud Ramaprasad. “Envisioning Cultural Heritage and Curriculum Informatics: A Current
Ontological Profile.”
3

4. SELECTED PRESENTATIONS:
Yaco, Sonia. “Collections to Curriculum Crosswalk” International Council on Archives-Section on University
and Research Institution Archives (ICA/SUV). Chapel Hill North Carolina (2015).
Yaco, Sonia. "Archive & Curation Views & Approaches in the Public and Private Sectors" (panelist), Midwest
Digital Asset Management Meet-up Group, Chicago Illinois (2015).
Yaco, Sonia. “Building A Curriculum to Collection Crosswalk,” Digital Humanities Working Group, University
of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago Illinois (2014).
Yaco, Sonia and Greta Suiter. “Desegregation of Virginia Education (DOVE) and Library of Congress’
ViewShare” Tech Tools Pecha Kucha panel, Mid-Atlantic Archives Conference (MARAC), Philadelphia
Pennsylvania (2013).
Yaco, Sonia. “Desegregation of Virginia Education (DOVE) Project”, Creating and Using School
Desegregation Resources at Old Dominion University Libraries panel, National Council for History Education
conference, “Emancipation & Human Rights in History”, Richmond Virginia (2013).
Yaco, Sonia. “The Effect Of Gender Activism On The Professional Lives Of Historians, Educators, And
Archivists,” Women’s Studies Department - Works-In-Progress Conference, Norfolk Virginia (2013).
Yaco, Sonia. “Using Scholarly Leadership to Reveal Invisible Collections and Unnoticed History,” Win-Win:
Collaborating With Diverse Communities to Build Collections and Raise Awareness panel, Joint Conference of
Librarians of Color, Kansas City Missouri (2012).
Yaco, Sonia. “Preserving our printed history,” National Library Preservation Week at Perry Library, Old
Dominion University, Norfolk Virginia (2012).
Yaco, Sonia and Maura Hametz. “Students in the Archives: Seeing ‘Greater Virginia’ in the papers of
chronicler Alf J. Mapp, Jr.,” Virginia Forum, Harrisonburg Virginia (2012).
Yaco, Sonia. “Social activism, professional lives, and institutional missions,” Society of American Archivists
Research Forum, Chicago, Illinois (2011).
Yaco, Sonia and Jefferson Moak. “Teaching Historical Research Methodology by Utilizing the Desegregation
of Virginia Education (DOVE) Project in Your Classroom,” Virginia Forum, Lexington Virginia (2011).
Yaco, Sonia and Beatriz Hardy. “Archivists, Historians, and Social Activists: the Desegregation of Virginia
Education (DOVE) Project," Memory, Identity, and the Archival Paradigm: an interdisciplinary approach
conference, The Centre for Archive and Information Studies at the University of Dundee, Dundee Scotland
(2010).
Yaco, Sonia and Robert Vay. "Outreach and Advocacy: the Desegregation of Virginia Education (DOVE)
Project", Archives and Archivists of Color Roundtable, Society of American Archivists, Washington, D.C.
(2010).
Yaco, Sonia. "Diversifying Our Patron and Donor Base: Desegregation of Virginia Education (DOVE) Project,"
Virginia Library Association Paraprofessional Annual Conference, Richmond Virginia (2010).
4

5. Yaco, Sonia. "Desegregation of Virginia Education (DOVE) Project," Library Advisory Committee of the State
Council of Higher Education of Virginia, Norfolk Virginia (2010).
Yaco, Sonia. "Preserving Norfolk history and Special Collections," American Association of University
Women, Norfolk Virginia (2010).
Yaco, Sonia and Beatriz Hardy. “Non-traditional users and patrons: The DOVE project,” Virginia College and
Research Libraries/Virginia Library Association Conference, Williamsburg Virginia (2009).
Yaco, Sonia. “Desegregation of Virginia Education (DOVE) Project: A guide to resources,” Meeting the
Challenge: Documenting Under-Represented Communities and Topics Through Cooperative Collecting panel,
Society of American Archivists, Austin, Texas (2009).
Yaco, Sonia. "Students in the Archives: Finding Voices in Old Dominion University’s Desegregation Archive,"
Virginia Social Sciences Association, Petersburg Virginia (2009).
Yaco, Sonia. “It’s Complicated: Barriers to EAD Implementation,” Society of American Archivists, Chicago,
Illinois (2007).
Yaco, Sonia. “The Potential for Use of Voice Recognition Software in Appraisal of Oral History Tapes,”
Association for Recorded Sound Collections, Milwaukee Wisconsin (2007).
Moran, Marguerite and Sonia Yaco. “What Color Is My Manure Spreader? Our Experiences with the
McCormick – International Harvester Collection,” Poster session, Society of American
Archivists/NAGARA/CoSA, Washington, D.C. (2006).
EXHIBITS:
Yaco, Sonia. “School Desegregation: Learn, Preserve, Empower,” Desegregation of Virginia Education
(DOVE) in partnership with NAACP, AARP and Urban League, traveling exhibit, (2012-2014).
Yaco, Sonia. “Honoring the Virginia Symphony League,” Old Dominion University Libraries (2012).
Yaco, Sonia. “Celebrating the History of Virginia Opera,” Old Dominion University Libraries (2012).
Yaco, Sonia. “Highlights of Special Collections and University Archives,” Old Dominion University Libraries
(2009).
Yaco, Sonia. “Politics and Desegregation: The Cases, Courts and Campaigns,” Old Dominion University
Libraries (2008).
AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS:
Nomination for Society of American Archivists’ Philip M. Hamer and Elizabeth Hamer Kegan Award, for
increased public awareness of a specific body of documents (2014, 2012, 2010).
Grant for Academic Enhancement of Learning Community: “Understanding Social Justice: History and
Education,” Old Dominion University (2013).
AARP Virginia Community Partner of the Year Award (2012).
Travel Grant, Institute for Jewish Studies and Interfaith Understanding, Old Dominion University (2011).
5

6. Grant for Desegregation of Virginia Education (DOVE) Project Training Workshops, Martin Luther King Jr.
Memorial Commission of the Virginia Legislature (2011).
Scholarship for Archives Leadership Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison. (2010).
Certificate for Contributions to the 50th Anniversary of the End of Massive Resistance Commemoration, Mayor
of the City of Norfolk Virginia (2009).
Scholarship for International Council on Archives, Section on University and Research Institution Archives
conference (2007).
Graduate Student Mentor Award, Collaborative and the Multicultural Graduate Network, University of
Wisconsin-Madison (2007).
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:
• Webmaster (elected), Archives and Archivists of Color Roundtable of SAA (2014 - present)
• Judge, Chicago Metro History Day (2015-present)
• Reviewer, Black Metropolis Research Consortium (BMRC) Short-Term Fellowships in African American
Studies (2014)
• Senior advisor, Desegregation of Virginia Education (DOVE) Project (2013- present)
• Senior advisor, Kids in Birmingham 1963 project (2013-present)
• Reviewer, Digital Humanities Implementation Grants, National Endowment for the Humanities, (2013)
• Peer Reviewer, Archival Science, International Journal on Recorded Information, (2012)
• Member, Harold T. Pinkett Minority Student Award Committee, Society of American Archivists (2011-
2012)
• Grant reviewer, National Archives and Records Administration, National Historical Publications and
Records Commission (2009-2014)
• Mentor, Society of American Archivists Mentoring Program (2008-2011)
• Founder and co-chair Desegregation of Virginia Education (DOVE) Project (2008-2013)
UNIVERSITY SERVICE:
• Member, African-American Cultural Center Advisory Committee (2016–present)
• Faculty judge, UIC Student Research Forum (2014, 2016)
• Reviewer, Chancellor’s Award (2015)
• Member, Digital Humanities Working Group (2015-present)
• Member, Community Affairs Internal Council (2015-present)
• Evaluator, Public Health Baccalaureate Symposium (2015)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:
• Society of American Archivists (SAA)
• Archives and Archivists of Color Roundtable of SAA
• Chicago Area Archivists
• Archivists and Librarians in the History of the Health Sciences
ART EXPERIENCE:
• Exhibiting textile artist, Madison Wisconsin, 1986- 1996
6

7. • Exhibiting sculptor and furniture and musical instrument maker, Chicago Illinois, 2013-present
7