Rachel Fundator
Information Literacy Instructional Designer
I come from a family of educators. My twin sister, my mom (and two of her siblings), my maternal grandfather, and my great-grandfather became teachers. So, it is safe to say that teaching and learning are deeply engrained and valued in my family dynamic. I initially neglected the traditional family career path, opting instead for a career in museum work after I earned my BA in art history from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).
After living for a few years in Chicago and Washington, D.C. and interning in a few museums along the way, I decided to go back to school for a degree in Library and Information Science. While living in D.C., I enrolled in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at UIUC and hoped to select a track or specialization along the way. Perhaps it was inevitable, but I was immediately drawn to reference work and particularly information literacy instruction. I realized the crucial role librarians play in teaching and learning and aligned this new perspective with the values I acquired growing up in a family of passionate educators. I’m extremely excited to be joining the Purdue Libraries as the Information Literacy Instructional Designer, where I will work with faculty to support student learning as part of the IMPACT program. Now, my mom, sister, and I are constantly talking about teaching and learning, which I am sure drives everyone else in the family who are not in this field a bit crazy.
In my spare time, my husband and I have our hands full with our hyperactive labrador, Louie, and exceedingly grumpy cat, Bernie. I love to travel, especially abroad. When we get the chance, my husband and I visit his family in Israel. Most recently, we took a trip to California, since I had never been to the west coast. My next dream vacation is Spain, particularly Barcelona.
Having grown up in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, I am a Midwesterner at heart. I am happy to be close to family again and thrilled to be starting my career at the Purdue Libraries working in an environment where librarians contribute in such a fundamental way to student learning.
My office is located in HIKS G936 and my contact information is rfundator@purdue.edu or 49-48217.
Adriana Harmeyer
Outreach and Instruction Archivist
I am very excited to join the staff of Purdue Libraries and be part of the Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives & Special Collections team. Since my first day on Aug. 8, I've been learning all I can about Purdue and its history.
I received a BA in History from Marshall University, conveniently located in my hometown of Huntington, West Virginia, with a focus on late 19th and early 20th-century America. I then completed my Masters of Science in Information with a dual focus on Archives & Records Management and Preservation of Information from the University of Michigan. While at Michigan, I was fortunate to gain experience working in a variety of library and archival settings, including the University Music Library, the General Motors Design Archive, the Washtenaw County Historical Society and the Theodore Roosevelt Center.
I spent the past three years working as a Lincoln Librarian with the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection housed at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne. In that subject-specific role, I did anything and everything related to the care, promotion and use of one of the best archival collections focused on Abraham Lincoln. That also means that I know more than I ever could’ve imagined about Lincoln, so if you ever find yourself in need of a Lincoln-related anecdote (and want to be sure that it's actually true), I might be the person to ask.
I have always loved stories, so most of my free time is spent with books, movies, television and trivia. I especially love the old and obscure books that nobody's really heard of before. I usually figure out pretty quickly why nobody's heard of them, but occasionally a gem turns up. I also enjoy learning and sharing the stories of people who are usually forgotten by the textbooks yet led interesting lives. Basically, there could not be a more perfect job for me than archivist.
You can find me in Archives & Special Collections, STEW451, email aharmey@purdue.edu, or call 49-42263. |