Meet A Fellow APA Member

Interview by Nicki Walker, APA Communications Committee

Meet Jennie Russell, our highlighted APA member from University Archives & Historical Collections.

What is your job title?

Assistant Records Archivist

How long have you been at MSU?

Five years.

Have you been a member of the APA the whole time?

No. When I was first hired at MSU, it was for a six to nine month limited term position. My position kept getting renewed before it was turned into a full-time position.

What department do you work in, and can you tell me a little bit about what you do?

I work at the University Archives & Historical Collections over in Conrad Hall. In my position, I help answer questions from researchers, processing collections to make them available for researchers to view, and helping with the day to day duties of the Records Management program. I also create exhibits for our exhibit cases, write blogs, help teach the Records Management Professional Development Services class with my coworker, and help out with events as needed and special projects as they come up, such as a large scanning project.

What brought you to your job at MSU?

I wanted to work in an archives and in my last semester at Wayne State getting my Masters in Library Science degree, a job posting came up at MSU. I applied for the job and got it, so I graduated with my degree on Friday, December 9, and started my job on Monday, December 12. 

What do you love about working at MSU?

I enjoy the history of this campus. This campus has grown so much that it’s fun to find the facts that people don’t realize, such as MSU had a deer park, MSU President Abbot had to actually go into the dorms to break up fights and arguments between students, and the first building on campus, College Hall, was actually built with a tree stump in one of the corners. 

What do you like to do when you are not at work?

I’m a triathlete so a great deal of my time is either spent running, biking, or swimming. When I’m not doing that, I enjoy reading, crocheting, playing board games, kayaking, and spending time with my two dachshunds, Harley and Freddy.