skip to main content
T-Kay Sangwand
T-Kay Sangwand
01:05

T-Kay Sangwand

UCLA

Los Angeles, CA USA

"We need people from all different experiences and backgrounds to work in this field because otherwise the historical narrative becomes much more narrow."

Career Roadmap

T-Kay's work combines: Education, Technology, and Upholding a Cause and Belief

See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.

Take Roadmap Quiz

Day In The Life

Librarian for Digital Collection Development

I work with communities to preserve cultural heritage and expand access to historical records.

03:03

Day In The Life Of An Archivist

My Day to Day

I spend time planning projects with cultural heritage partners, collaborating with preservation experts, and finding ways to digitize and provide access to historical materials. I also work with students, mentoring them through projects involving metadata, digital collections, and social media. Whether I'm coordinating an international partnership or speaking with students about archives and Latin American studies, my role is about connecting people with history and information.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Gender & Women's Studies

    Scripps College

  • Graduate Degree

    Latin American Studies

    UCLA

  • Graduate Degree

    Library and Information Science

    UCLA

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    While working at my college library, I realized I could build a career helping people learn, explore, and access information.

  • 2.

    I went to graduate school to become an academic librarian but discovering archives and learning how they can support social justice changed my trajectory and inspired me to become an archivist.

  • 3.

    I landed my dream job as a human rights archivist at the University of Texas and began preserving records of social change around the world.

  • 4.

    Working with partners in places like Rwanda, Guatemala, and Mexico taught me how to build archives that empower communities rather than extract from them.

  • 5.

    I joined UCLA's digital library program, expanding access to cultural heritage materials through collaborative digital collections.

  • 6.

    I applied to be a Fulbright scholar, which allowed me to live and work in Mexico City, supporting a community-led project documenting Indigenous Day of the Dead traditions.

  • 7.

    By combining my passions for archives, social justice, music, and community engagement, I've helped create new ways for people to connect with history and culture.