Robert Beasecker
Robert Beasecker is the Curator of Rare Books and Distinguished Collections. He is responsible for purchasing and cataloging books, correspondence, ephemera and other materials that fit into the Special Collections areas of interest. His education includes an AB from Hillsdale College, and an AMLS from the University of Michigan. He also received a certificate in archival management from the University of Wisconsin, and attended a series of classes in the University of Virginia's Rare Book School. He began his career at Grand Valley in 1970 as Reference Librarian, and among other things served as the Interim Dean of Libraries for two years. His research interests are Civil War correspondence, Michigan as depicted in the novel, 15th-century printing, and the history of the book, among others.
Contact him at b[email protected]
Leigh Rupinski
Leigh Rupinski is the Archivist for Public Services and Community Engagement. She is responsible for instruction services, exhibition creation, reference assistance, student supervision, and outreach services. She graduated with a B.A. from Grand Valley State University and a Master's in Information Science with specializations in Archives & Records Management and the Preservation of Information from the University of Michigan School of Information. Her research interests include creative methods of teaching with primary sources, innovative outreach practices for special collections and archival material, social media and archival materials, and student employment and mentorship in archives. She is also the co-host of Special Collections' podcast To the Letter.
Contact her at [email protected]
Annie Benefiel
Annie Benefiel is the University Archivist and Digital Collections Librarian. She is responsible for collecting, processing, and preserving university records and special collections, and oversees digitization, metadata, and digital preservation for the Special Collections & University Archives. She holds a B.A. from Ball State University and a Masters in Library and Information Science with concentration in Archives Management from Simmons University. Prior to joining Grand Valley in 2014, she worked in archives and special collections at the University of Florida, Yale University, and Ball State University. Her research interests include community archives, personal archives, and collaborative collection development in special collections.
Contact her at [email protected]
Diana Page
Diana Page is the Library Specialist for Archives & Digital Collections. She is responsible for providing support for our archivists and curator in Special Collections & University Archives, particularly in research services, digital collections, and building operations at Seidman House. She holds a B.S. in Geography & Environmental Studies from Grand Valley State University and is currently pursuing certification as a Michigan Master Naturalist through MSU Extension. Diana is a longtime member of the University Libraries’ community and previously worked at Mary Idema Pew Library & Information Commons and Zumberge Library prior to joining her colleagues at Seidman House. Her research interests include Laker history & campus environments, visual materials in archives & special collections, the cultural heritage of outdoor recreation, and the natural history of the Great Lakes region.
Contact her at [email protected]
Andrea Van Dyke
Andrea Van Dyke is a Visiting Librarian, Processing Archivist. She is responsible for tackling large processing projects to make them available to researchers. She holds a B.A. in History from Central Michigan University, an M.A. in History from Ohio University, and a Masters in Library and Information Science with an Archives concentration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to joining Grand Valley, she worked in higher education and briefly as a Local History Librarian in Ohio. Her research interests include modern Europe, U.S. cultural history, justice and archives, and archival processing and outreach.
Contact her at [email protected]