Kate Morris
Head of Special Collections, Associate Professor
- email: morriskn@jmu.edu
- phone: (540) 568-3444
Building: Burruss HallMSC: 1706
Departments: Academic Engagement Unit, Digital Scholarship & Distinctive Collections Department
Pronouns: She / Her / Hers
About me
Responsibilities:
Kate provides leadership to Special Collections, and works to collect and develop unique collections that document the history of the central Shenandoah Valley and the history of the university. She works with faculty to integrate Special Collections materials into coursework and to acquire rare and unique collections that support the curriculum.
Education:
Digital Archives Specialist Certificate, Society of American Archivists, 2018; recertified 2023
Master of Science, Information Science, SUNY Albany, 2013
Bachelor of Arts, English, James Madison University, 2005
About Academic Engagement Unit
We welcome people to the Libraries and help facilitate their experience by staffing the Libraries’ buildings and supporting people on their journey of inquiry. We answer and refer questions via Ask the Library, provide instruction sessions and consultations, and leverage our expertise to develop and provide access to scholarly collections, including special collections. Departments include Access & User Services, Digital Scholarship & Distinctive Collections, and Research & Education Services.
About Digital Scholarship & Distinctive Collections Department
We encourage exploration of history and cultural heritage through unique resources and innovative research methods. We collect, preserve, and share rare books, manuscripts, and archives in tangible and digital formats. We partner with students, educators, scholars, and communities to record, engage, and understand the past. We foster active learning with the oldest sources of knowledge and the newest technologies. Balancing responsible stewardship with inquiry and experimentation, DSDC is a site of curiosity and creativity at JMU, open to all.