Past Microgrant Recipients
The Utah State Historical Records Advisory Board (USHRAB) has awarded Professional Development Microgrants to support Utah’s archival professionals, students, and volunteers. These grants help recipients attend conferences, workshops, and training that strengthen preservation and access to historical records. Each year’s participants return with new skills, ideas, and connections that enrich their institutions and communities.
2025 Microgrant Recipients
Tara Beresh
Professional Development Microgrant Recipient
A Director of Curation and Exhibits, Moab Museum
“At the Utah Museums Association Conference, I was inspired by how Pipe Spring National Monument cares for collections in partnership with tribal communities. The visit reminded me how valuable it is to share ideas and learn directly from tribal representatives to ensure our work is inclusive and respectful…”
Abbie Chesley
Professional Development Microgrant Recipient
A graduate student completing her Master of Library Science degree at Utah State University, attended and presented at her first-ever professional conference. In her reflection, she shared:
“Although when I walked into CIMA, I felt unprepared, uncertain, and underwhelmed, I left with a new sense of purpose, confidence, and inspiration that will serve me well in the future.
Attending CIMA was a refreshing experience that left me inspired and more connected to my peers after seeing the creative and impactful work of others and being reminded of why I chose the information profession.”
Jessy Turner
Professional Development Microgrant Recipient
A Records Manager for Davis County, found the conference especially valuable for addressing shared challenges:
“While there, I was able to meet individuals I have only interacted with via email, reconnect with old acquaintances, and make new networking connections.
What I enjoyed the most was the chance to listen and learn about how other institutions have handled issues that I am currently facing, like the challenges of preserving digital records, managing organizational structures, and different project management strategies.”
Tonia Lewis
Professional Development Microgrant Recipient
An archivist at Sevier County Archives and Heritage Services, was excited to attend her first formal conference:
“One of the classes that stood out to me on the second day was “What’s in the Box!?: Revamping Archival Processing at the Utah State Archives and Records Service.” One of the great things they suggested was to meet the users where they are. With the role I play in Sevier County Archive and Heritage Services I mainly work on processing. According to presenter Gina Strack, processing is central for a highly functioning archive. She also emphasized the “more product, less process” mentality which can help in reducing backlog and helps prioritize efficiency. It also allows flexibility in the future to revise the general scope and processing procedures. The presenters also made sure to emphasize the importance of keeping our stakeholders in the know.
2024 Microgrant Recipients
Courtney Cochley
Professional Development Microgrant Recipient
Curator of the Hyrum City Museum, and the first recipient of the Utah State Historical Records Advisory Board’s (USHRAB) Professional Development Micro-Grant. Cochley used her award to attend the Annual Conference of the Conference of Inter-Mountain Archivists (CIMA) in Reno, Nevada, where she gained new insights, strengthened professional connections, and discovered fresh approaches to preserving and sharing community history.
“I am honored to have received a USHRAB Professional Development Micro-grant to attend the Conference of Intermountain Archivists (CIMA) Annual Conference in Reno last month! I am the Curator at the Hyrum City Museum and am the sole steward of our collection. I relished the opportunity to learn from colleagues at larger archival institutions, as well as smaller organizations and even other museums, to enhance my understanding of archival best practices and how to make our collections more accessible to the public. Every aspect of attending CIMA in-person enhanced my professional knowledge. From attending educational sessions and insightful tours, to simply networking with colleagues from across the region, I returned to Utah with plenty of inspiration to work with my museum’s collection.”