About

Lynda M. Kellam

Penn Libraries

As the Director of Research Data & Digital Scholarship at the University of Pennsylvania Libraries, I manage a team of librarians who support data management, GIS, repository services, digital humanities and publishing, AI/ML, and statistical software. In addition to managing the department, I support qualitative researchers with data analysis.

Data Rescue

As a founding organizer and Director of the Data Rescue Project, I research and write about the Federal Statistical System and government information preservation.

History

For my Ph.D., I focused on the nineteenth century American and British anti-imperial movements and their connections to the American anti-lynching efforts. My dissertation Looking Forward: Sovereign Responsibilities in the United States and Great Britain, 1894-1920 is available from UNCG’s NC DOCKS. Feel free to read and send me feedback! My current project examines Lucia Ames Mead who is best known as a peace advocate but had ties to the anti-imperialist movement.

Experience

  • University of Pennsylvania Libraries
    • Director of Research Data & Digital Scholarship | February 2024 - present
    • Interim Director of Research Data & Digital Scholarship | July 2023 - January 2024
    • Head of Research Data Services | January 2022 - February 2023
  • Cornell University
    • Senior Data Librarian/Associate Librarian | July 2019 - December 2021
  • Unversity of North Carolina at Greensboro
    • Research Data Coordinator & Associate Professor | May 2007 - July 2019
    • Assistant Director of International & Global Studies | March 2016 - December 2019

Education

  • Ph.D. in American History
    • University of North Carolina at Greensboro | May 2023
  • Master in Library & Information Sciences
    • University of North Carolina at Greensboro | May 2007
  • MA in Political Science
    • University of Wisconsin, Madison | May 2000
  • BA in Political Science & International & Global Studies
    • University of North Carolina at Greensboro | December 1997

Awards

LJ Movers and Shakers 2026—Community Builders

Recognition for leadership in the Data Rescue Project. LJ Mover & Shaker

ProQuest/GODORT/ALA “Documents to the People” Award (for Data Rescue Project)

Awarded to the Data Rescue Project to recognize a group that has most effectively encouraged the use of government documents in support of library service.

RDAP Work of the Year Award 2026 (for Data Rescue Project)

Awarded to the Data Rescue Project Steering Committee to recognize an outstanding publication, program, or other publicly available work related to research data access and preservation.

National Digital Stewardship Alliance Excellence Award, 2025 (for Data Rescue Project)

Awarded to the Data Rescue Project Steering Committee to recognize innovative approaches to providing support and guidance to the digital preservation community.

Andrew W. Mellon Fellows at Price Lab for Digital Humanities, 2023-2024

Awarded to conduct research on Lucia Ames Mead, a peace activist and educator based out of Boston who was connected to the anti-imperialist movement during the turn of the 20th century.

Marta Lange/SAGE-CQ Press Award, 2019

Awarded by the Association of College and Research Libraries’ Politics, Policy, and International Relations Section for distinguished contributions to bibliography and information service in law or political science.

ACRL ULS Outstanding Professional Development Award, 2019

Awarded by the Association of College and Research Libraries’ University Libraries Section for creating the webinar series “Help! I’m an Accidental Government Information Librarian.”

UNCG’s School of Education Outstanding Alumni Award, 2019

UNCG’s School of Education Early Career Award, 2013

American Library Association’s Emerging Leaders Program, 2010

Selected to participate in Emerging Leaders with the Government Documents Round Table sponsorship. ALA Emerging Leaders is a leadership development program for new librarians.

Fulbright Fellowship to Croatia, 2001