Archivist Ferriero Names Two New Executives
Press Release · Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Washington, DC

Today Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero announced two appointments to the new Executive Leadership Team: James Gardner as the Executive for Legislative Archives, Presidential Libraries, and Museum Services effective August 15, 2011; and Donna Garland as the National Archives Chief Strategy and Communications Officer effective September 26, 2011.

In making these announcements, Mr. Ferriero said, “I am delighted to welcome Dr. Gardner and Ms. Garland to the National Archives.  Dr. Gardner brings to this assignment over 30 years of experience leading complex national, public and private organizations that span the historical, cultural, museum, library, archival, and educational communities.  His unique background is well suited to the challenges we face in the archival and cultural world today, sharing best practices and knowledge across the National Archives nationwide network of Presidential libraries, exhibition and education programs and legislative Archives.”

Mr. Ferriero went on to say, “In her previous position as the Associate Director of Communication at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ms. Garland brought synergy to internal and external communications that supported the vision of the agency.  Her widespread experience will help us create a unified, coherent voice enabling all employees, customers, stakeholders and partners to understand the National Archives mission and strategy.”

James Gardner:

As the Executive for Legislative Archives, Presidential Libraries, and Museum Services, Dr. Gardner will provide executive direction, guidance, strategic coordination, and evaluation of NARA's national education and exhibits programs, the Center for Legislative Archives and the Presidential Libraries system.

In his most recent position, Dr. Gardner spent more than 12 years working at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History (NMAH). Since 2009, he has served as the Senior Scholar, overseeing collections and research planning and working on pan-Smithsonian initiatives. He previously served as Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs at NMAH, with responsibility for the Museum's collecting, research, and exhibition development as well as its involvement with Smithsonian Affiliates and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.

Prior to his appointment at the museum, Dr. Gardner served as Deputy Executive Director of the American Historical Association. In this capacity, he was responsible for managing budgets, working with committees on long-range planning and policies, overseeing special projects, and representing the association in foundations, advocacy groups, government agencies and other organizations.   He also served as Director of Education and Special Programs for the American Association for State and Local History where he had special responsibility for several affinity groups focused on presidential sites and libraries, small museums, and educators and interpreters.

Dr. Gardner holds Doctorate and Masters Degrees in History from Vanderbilt University and an undergraduate degree in History from Rhodes College.

Donna Garland:

Ms. Garland will be responsible for ensuring the agency develops one identity and one overall strategy through collaboration with front line staff and program offices.   She will ensure improved internal communications up, down, and across the agency in addition to identifying and implementing opportunities for collaboration, encouraging staff and stakeholder input, and forging external strategic alliances.

Since 2009, Ms. Garland served as the Associate Director of Communication for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) where she was responsible for directing overall agency communication, marketing, and response to issues.  She also established agency-wide strategic initiatives, milestones, as well as staffing, project, and budget plans.

Prior to that appointment, she served as the Director in the Office of Enterprise Communication of the CDC for five years. During this time, she commissioned the agency’s first communication audit to better understand the communication needs and expectations of internal and external audiences. Among her other roles within the CDC, one of Garland’s key accomplishments was revamping the strategic planning process within the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. In November 2001, she worked with the CDC Office of Communications to respond to media and public inquiries related to the collapse of the World Trade towers and anthrax threats and went on to establish the agency’s Emergency Communication System to support public health response activities.

Garland joined the federal government in 1993 to work on the national Childhood Immunization Outreach Campaign, a Presidential initiative within the Department of Health and Human Services and later within CDC’s National Immunizations Program. Prior to the CDC, Garland was media coordinator at the Children’s Defense Fund; marketing media representative and marketing publications editor at Hallmark Cards, Inc.; and public affairs director at the Atlanta Urban League.  She has volunteered her public relations expertise to such organizations as UNICEF, the United Negro College Fund, Habitat for Humanity and The Girl Scouts of America.  She holds a Bachelors degree in Business and Organizational Communications from the University of Akron.

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For press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at (202) 357-5300.