Coates Library is excited to welcome Sierra Withers as our new Archives Associate!

Sierra brings a rich academic and professional background to the role. She holds an MPhil in Heritage Studies from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from The University of Texas at Austin, where she was recognized as a Phi Beta Kappa inductee, College Scholar, and University Honors recipient.

Her passion for archives and special collections was sparked during an internship with the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park’s museum and archives in Johnson City, Texas. “To say I enjoyed it would be an understatement,” Sierra shares. “Each day presented a new challenge, and being able to maintain special materials and bridge them to the public was greatly rewarding.”

In describing her graduate work, Sierra reflects on Heritage Studies as “a chimera of museum studies, anthropology, psychology, and political science. It’s essentially about how people today interact with the past (or use it), and how they carry it with them toward the future.”

Sierra recently returned from studying abroad in England, where she found both adventure and quiet reflection. “One core memory for me was simply sitting on a grassy lawn full of students, casually chatting with my best friend about our hopes for the world.” While she values her time abroad, Sierra emphasizes that her deepest roots are here in San Antonio. “I’m Latina and a member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians. Living in such an intersectional city prepared me to engage in ways I couldn’t imagine. This is truly a special space for anyone interested in heritage and preservation.”

At Trinity, Sierra is especially excited to learn more about the university’s community and to provide greater access to its histories. “For me, this is a dream role in an incredibly positive work environment,” she says. “The Coates Library is going through major changes, and I’m eager to work here with my team! Helping dive into many amazing collections and making them accessible is an exciting and joyful endeavor.”

We are thrilled to have Sierra on board as we continue preserving and sharing Trinity’s unique history.