We are thrilled to announce that Dharani Persaud, who is currently pursuing a dual degree in Archival and Library and Information studies, is the 2023 recipient of the Society of American Archivists’ (SAA) Mosaic Scholarship!
The following text has been lightly edited from the SAA’s official press release
First awarded in 2009, the Mosaic Scholarship also provides recipients with a one-year membership in SAA and a complimentary registration to the SAA conference. The $5,000 scholarship is given to a student who demonstrates potential for scholastic and personal achievement and who manifests a commitment both to the archival profession and to advancing diversity concerns within it.
After completing her undergraduate studies, Dharani co-created Ro(u)ted By Our Stories, an oral history archives for Indo-Caribbean women and gender-expansive individuals. Working on this project inspired her to pursue academic training in archives. At UBC iSchool, Dharani co-leads IDEAS, a student group that aims to provide a safe and productive community for Indigenous, Black, and People of Color (IBPOC) students on campus. In this role, she plans programming featuring archives and library professionals and creates workshops to assist students with professional development.
One of Dharani’s supporters notes that she “possesses an inquiring and sharp intellect, and compassionate interest in social justice and archival silences. She is consistently thoughtful and generous with her knowledge in support of her peers’ learning.” Another remarked, “Her work is always thorough and thoughtful, demonstrating excellent critical analysis and a deeply ethical orientation.”
In addition to her academic and leadership work, Dharani works as an archival catalog and research assistant at the South Asian Canadian Digital Archive at the University of Fraser Valley, where she is assisting in the early stages of creating an LGBTQIA+ collection and an Indo-Caribbean collection. In her work and education, Dharani seeks to make archives more accessible and representative of people who historically have been excluded or marginalized.
