In a competitive application process consisting of 80  candidates, Stephanie M. Luke has been selected as a participant in the 2025 Archives Leadership Institute (ALI) at the University of Virginia.

Stephanie Luke, Assistant Professor and Metadata Librarian at the University Library, holds an MA in English and an MLIS in rare book and manuscript librarianship, both from Indiana University-Bloomington. Her research centers on the ethical description and equitable access of cultural heritage materials in GLAM institutions. She currently serves as Reviews Co-Editor of American Archivist.

ALI is a grant program funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, a statutory body affiliated with the National Archives and Records Administration, and is being hosted at the University of Virginia for the years 2024-2026. The Archives Leadership Institute at the University of Virginia (ALI@Virginia) will provide advanced training for 25 archivists and memory workers, giving them the knowledge and tools to transform the archival profession in practice, theory, stewardship, and care. In support of the project, the University of Virginia Library was awarded $300,000 by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, the granting agency of the National Archives and Records Administration.

Participants were selected for the 2025 ALI@Virginia program based on their exceptional leadership skills and potential, the ability to influence change within the archival field, a strong commitment to the archival profession, demonstrated professional organizational involvement and service, a collaborative and innovative spirit, and representation and/or support of diversity within the profession.

The leadership institute held at the University of Virginia is a week-long immersion program that embraces a distraction-free, focused opportunity for archival leaders to develop necessary theories, skills, and knowledge. Participants will engage in classroom and experiential learning focusing on individual growth and building capacity as a leader, organizational leadership, and responsible stewardship and partnerships. The ALI@Virginia experience will be grounded in context and place, so the cohort will explore leadership through the lens of the unique emotional and historical landscape that the University of Virginia offers.