Randall Bowman
Archivist and Assistant Librarian
Department: Library
Email: rbowman@elon.edu
Phone number: (336) 278-6571
Brief Biography
- Certified Archivist, 2018; member of the Academy of Certified Archivists. Recertified in 2025.
- Works in the Archives and Special Collections Department at Elon University on projects related to the Church History Collection, as well as the University Archives Collection.
- Liaison to the following departments and campus partners: Geography/Geographical Information Systems (GIS); Maker Hub; the Truitt Center; and Egames/gaming clubs.
News & Notes
Education
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Master of Library and Information Studies Degree, May 1997
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Bachelor of Arts Degree in History (Minor in Geography), May 1992
Louisburg College
- Associate of Arts Degree, summa cum laude, May 1990
Additional coursework
- LIS 505, Introduction to Archival Management, UNC-Greensboro, Fall 2008
Employment History
Archivist and Assistant Librarian, Elon University, Elon, NC (January 2018 - present)
Archives Librarian (Church History Archival Collections), Elon University, Elon NC (January 2017 - December 2017)
Archives Librarian & Church Collection Archivist, Elon University, Elon, NC (January 2015 - December 2016)
Reference/Instruction Librarian and Assistant Professor, Elon University, Elon, NC (October 2000 - December 2014)
Reference Librarian, Gardner-Webb University, Boiling Springs, NC (December 1997 – October 2000)
Circulation/Reserves Supervisor (temporary position), House Undergraduate Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (August 1997 – December 1997)
Information Desk Assistant, Jackson Library, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (August 1996 – May 1997)
Library Intern, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, NC (August 1996 – December 1996)
Graduate Assistant, Department of Library and Information Studies, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (August 1995 – August 1996)
Publications
Bowman, Randall. "He Knew The Dangers Before Him: Elon graduate Dewey Hooper in World War II." Online exhibit, Belk Library website, 2022, https://belkarchives.omeka.net/exhibits/show/deweyhooper
Bowman, Randall. "Christian Church and United Church of Christ Genealogical Resources at Elon University." North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, 47(2), 109-113.
Bowman, Randall. "Elon College and the First World War." Online exhibit, Belk Library website, 2020, https://elon.libguides.com/archives/WorldWarOne/
Bowman, Randall. "From the Archives: A Resilient Community." The Magazine of Elon, Spring/Summer 2020, 36, https://www.elon.edu/u/news/2020/06/12/from-the-archives-a-resilient-community/
Bowman, Randall. "The Spanish Flu of 1918 at Elon: 'We Did Not Know What It Was, Until We Were All Sick.'" Today@Elon Website, March 24, 2020, https://www.elon.edu/u/news/2020/3/24/weve-been-here-before-elon-the-spanish-flu-of-1918/
Bowman, Randall. "Elon College and the First World War, 1914-1919", Exhibit displayed in Belk Library, August-December 2018.
Presentations
Bowman, R. He Knew the Dangers Before Him: Elon Graduate Dewey Hooper in the Second World War. Presented to the Senior Adult Ministry Class, First United Methodist Church, Elon, NC, 2025.
Bowman, R. He Knew the Dangers Before Him: Elon Graduate Dewey Hooper in the Second World War. Presented at Life@Elon education program's Tuesday classes. Elon University, NC, 2025.
Bowman, R. He Knew the Dangers Before Him: Elon Graduate Dewey Hooper in the Second World War. Presented at Life@Elon education program's Wednesday classes. Elon University, NC, 2024.
Bowman, R. Creating Online Exhibits Using Omeka: Challenges and Possiblities. Presented at the Society of North Carolina Archivists Annual Meeting, Raleigh, NC, 2024.
Bowman, R. Archives and Exhibits: Things to Consider When Mounting An Exhibit in a Small Archive. Poster presented at the Society of North Carolina Archivists Annual Meeting, UNC-Wilmington, NC, 2019.
Bowman, R. Guest Speaker, UNCG LIS 505, Introduction to Archival Management Class, Greensboro, NC, 2018.
Bowman, R. Skeletons in the Closet: Genealogy for Beginners. Presented to Life@Elon lifelong education program (fall and spring), Elon, NC, 2018.
Bowman, R., Lashendock, L., Siler, V., & Smith, J. Sustainable Collaboration: Successful Professional and Paraprofessional Collaboration in an Academic Library Green Team. Poster presented at the 61st Biennial North Carolina Library Conference, Greensboro, NC, 2015.
Bowman, R., LePors, T., & Tennant, S. I Honestly Had No Idea: LibGuides Usability Assessment in an Academic Library. Program presentted at the 60th Biennial North Carolina Library Association, Winston-Salem, NC, 2013.
Bowman, R., & Gordon, B. Targeted, not Generic, Library Instruction for First Year Students. Program presented at the annual Conference on College Composition and Communication, St. Louis, MO, 2012.
Bowman, R., Cousins, D., Frank, H., Willis, C., & Coonin, B. Event Planning Without Tears. Panel discussion at the 59th Bienniel North Carolina Library Association Biennial Conference, Hickory, NC, 2011.
Balance, J., Bowman, R., Cosby, M., Dale, J., Exner, N., Neilson, S., Selhorst, A., & Shields, K. Lessons Learned: Getting the Most Out of LibGuides. Panel discussion at the 59th Bienniel North Carolina Library Association Biennial Conference. Hickory, NC, 2011.
Bowman, R. Assessing First-year Library Instruction Through Blackboard. Poster presented at the 4th Annual Metrolina Library Association Information Literacy Conference, Charlotte, NC., 2009.
Bowman, R. The Development of a Pre- and Post-test for Assessing First-Year Instruction, Delivered Using Blackboard. Poster presented NCLA College and University Section Library Instruction Conference, Chapel Hill, NC, 2008.
Professional Activities
Academy of Certified Archivists, Member 2018
- Certification Maintenance Committee, 2022-2025
- Petition Review Team, 2020-2021
- Member, 2018
American Library Association
- Communication Committee, Association of College and Research Libraries Instruction Section, 2005-2006
- Immersion Information Literacy Workshop, 2001
LIS Alumni Association Executive Board, UNC-Greensboro
- Past-President, 2012 – 2013
- President, 2010 – 2012
- Vice-President/President-Elect, 2009 – 2010
- Member, Executive Board, 2008 - 2009
North Carolina Library Association
- Member, Association of College and Research Libraries-North Carolina Chapter, 2024-present
- Member, Special Collections Section, 2024-2025
- Past Chair, College and University Section, 2015-2017
- Planning Committee, 61st Biennial NCLA Conference; Co-chair, Local Arrangements Committee, 2013-2015
- NCLA Executive Board, 2013-2015
- Chair, College and University Section, 2013-2015
- Participant, NCLA Leadership Institute, 2012
- Vice Chair/Chair-elect, College and University Section, 2011-2013
- Secretary/Treasurer, College and University Section, 2009 – 2011
- Co-chair, Bibliographic Instruction Steering Committee, 2007-2009
- Member, 2007-present
Society of North Carolina Archivists
- Membership Chair, 2024-2026
- Editorial Board, 2019-2022
- Local Arrangements Committee, SNCA Annual Conference, 2019-2020.
- Program Committee, SNCA Annual Conference, 2018-2019
- Nominating Committee, 2017-2018
- Member, 2013 - present
Service Activities
Community Service
- Life@Elon Bookmobile, 2014-present
- Tutor, It Takes A Village Project, 2014-2019
- Volunteer, Alamance County Historical Museum Archives, 2009
- Volunteer, Cummings High School Media Center, Belk Library Outreach Program, 2006
Library Committees
- Promotion Committee, 2018-2020
- Sustainability Committee, 2012 - 2017
- Library Publicity Committee, 2008 - 2009
University Committees
- Athletics Committee, 2019-2022
- Admissions Committee, 2016-2019; Chair, 2018-2019
- Library Committee, 2012-2014
- Lyceum Committee, 2006 – 2008
Professional Development
Society of North Carolina Archivists Annual Meeting, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, May 2025.
Archives*Records, Society of American Archivists Annual Conference, Virtual, August 2024.
Society of North Carolina Archivists Annual Meeting, Raleigh, NC, April 2024.
Society of North Carolina Archivists Annual Meeting, Virtual, March 2023.
Archives*Records 2022, Society of American Archivists Annual Conference, VIrtual, August 2022.
Society of North Carolina Archivists Annual Meeting, Virtual, March 2022.
North Carolina Library Association 64th Biennial Conference, Virtual, October 2021.
Archives*Records, 2021, Society of American Archivists Annual Conference, Virtual, August 2021.
17th Annual Teaching and Learning Conference, Virtual, June 2021.
Metrolina Library Association Annual Conference, Virtual, June 2021.
Society of North Carolina Archivists Annual Meeting, Virtual, April 2021.
Archives*Records 2020, Society of American Archivists Annual Conference, Virtual, August 2020.
Metrolina Library Association Annual Conference, Virtual, June 2020.
Society of North Carolina Archivists Annual Meeting, Virtual, May 2020.
16th Annual Teaching and Learning Conference, Elon University, Elon, NC. August 2019.
Archives*Records 2019, Society of American Archivists Annual Conference, Austin, TX. August 2019.
Society of North Carolina Archivists Annual Meeting, UNC-Wilmington, NC. March 2019.
Guest Speaker, UNCG LIS 505, Introduction to Archival Management, Greensboro, NC. February 2019.
Archives*Records 2018, Society of American Archivists Annual Conference, Washington, DC. August 2018.
Society of North Carolina Archivists Annual Meeting, Duke University, Durham, NC. March 2018.
Guest speaker, UNCG LIS 505, Introduction to Archival Management, Greensboro, NC. February 2018.
North Carolina Library Association 62nd Biennial Conference, Winston-Salem, NC. October 2017.
14th Annual Teaching and Learning Conference, Elon University, Elon, NC. August 2017
TALA Information Literacy, Instruction, & Assessment Meeting, Guilford College, Greensboro, NC. August 2017.
4th Annual TALA Paraprofessional Conference, Elon University, Elon, NC. May 2017
Society of North Carolina Archivists Annual Meeting, Asheboro, NC. March 2017.
Archives*Records 2016, Society of American Archivists Annual Conference, Atlanta, Georgia. August 2016.
North Carolina Preservation Consortium Workshop, Basic Book Repair, Raleigh, NC. June 2016.
Society of North Carolina Archivists Annual Meeting, Charlotte, NC. March 2016.
North Carolina Library Association 61st Bienniel Conference, Greensboro NC. October 2015.
Society of North Carolina Archivists Annual Meeting, Greenville, NC. March 2015.
"Academic Libraries: Past and Future." NCLA College and University Section mini-conference. Charlotte, NC. December 2014.
"Archives: Principles and Practices." Pre-conference workshop, Archives*Records, Society of American Archivists Annual Conference. Washington, DC. August 2014.
North Carolina Library Association 60th Biennial Conference. Winston-Salem, NC. October 2013.
"Assessment Beyond Statistics: A Mini-Conference Devoted to Issues in Academic Library Assessment." NCLA College and University Section mini-conference. Lexington, NC. November 2012
North Carolina Library Association Leadership Institute. Asheboro, NC. October 2012
Conference on College Composition and Communication. St. Louis, MO. March 2012
North Carolina Library Association Biennial Conference. Hickory, NC. October 2011.
Association of College & Research Libraries Biennial Conference. Philadelphia, PA. March 2011.
"Library Instruction at the Point of Need.” NCLA College and University Section mini-conference. Lexington, NC. October 2010.
“Library Instruction 2.0.” NCLA College and University Section Library mini-conference. Chapel Hill, NC. November 2008.
Conferences Planned
Society of North Carolina Archivists Annual Meeting, Elon, NC, March 2020 (cancelled due to Coronavirus pandemic).
Society of North Carolina Archivists Annual Meeting, UNC-Wilmington, NC. March 2019.
Virtual Conference, NCLA College and University Section Library Conference. February 2017.
North Carolina Library Association 61st Biennial Conference. Greensboro, NC. October 2015
"Academic Libraries: Present and Future." NCLA College and University Section Library Conference. Charlotte, NC. December 2014.
"Assessment Beyond Statistics." NCLA College and University Section Library Conference. Lexington, NC. November 2012.
"Library Instruction at the Point of Need." NCLA College and University Section Library Conference. Lexington, NC. October 2010.
"Library Instruction 2.0." NCLA College and University Section Library Conference. Chapel Hill, NC. November 2008.
Awards
Certified Archivist, member of the Academy of Certified Archivists (2018; recertified 2025)
Granted Continuance as Assistant Librarian (2015)
North Carolina Library Association Leadership Institute (2012)
Brantley Award (for graduate with highest grade point average), Louisburg College (1990)
Phi Theta Kappa honor society, Louisburg College (1989)