Speaker Biography
Amanda Focke is Head of Special Collections at Rice University's Fondren Library, where she manages archives, rare books, and manuscripts. She leads initiatives that preserve institutional memory and connect the Rice community with its history through exhibitions, digital collections, and collaborative storytelling. Her work highlights how archives strengthen institutional identity and inspire philanthropy by sharing authentic stories of discovery and legacy. She holds a B.A. in Art History from Georgetown University and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Maryland.