Welcome to Our New Archivist, Anna Helmig-Sampson!

The University Libraries are delighted to welcome Anna Helmig-Sampson as the newest member of our Special Collections and Archives team! As Digital and Preservation Archivist, Anna coordinates the digital projects in Special Collections and Archives and manages the preservation functions in the department.

Anna is a proud Wright State alumna, having earned her Master of Arts, Public History Concentration. She returns to the archives with a wealth of professional experience in project management, digital access initiatives, archival preservation, and public engagement. Most recently, Anna served as Records and Database Manager for the National Aviation Heritage Area, where she led digitization projects, served as project manager on multiple aviation heritage initiatives, developed a comprehensive digital records database, and authored articles and blog posts highlighting Dayton's rich aviation history.

Her background also includes serving as Registrar and Collections Manager at the Dayton Society of Natural History, where she oversaw the care, preservation, and digitization of more than 1.8 million artifacts, and authored a new institutional Collections Management Handbook. Anna's professional journey began in part at Wright State when she worked as a temporary Processing Archivist in Special Collections and Archives - an experience she describes as formative in her career.

Anna brings expertise, creativity, and enthusiasm for connecting people with history. We're thrilled to welcome her back to Wright State and look forward to the many ways she will advance access to our collections and enhance community engagement.

Welcome home, Anna!