Em Lessley is a New Orleans-Based graduate student at Louisiana State University, studying Library and Information Science with a focus in Archival studies. Their goal is to gain more knowledge and experience with audio/visual media formats, and to understand more and better ways to care for digital records for long-term preservation that is accessible and sustainable to the world. Working with IPE is their first step in getting professional experience with archival material, and Em is eager to collaborate and grow with Will and Hannah to engage with such profound oral history projects.

Additionally, Em has a Bachelors degree from Oregon State University in Gender/Sexuality studies. During their studies, Em formed a passion for understanding the accessibility of literature within education and how important imaginative narratives and storytelling is to our ways of digesting knowledge, memory, and experiences. This is what helped spark a motivation to pursue Archival studies in their professional career.