About

Dr. Lisa Speer joined Ouachita's faculty in fall 2018 as university archivist in the Riley-Hickingbotham Library. A 1988 graduate, she earned advanced degrees from the University of Mississippi (M.A. 1991, Ph.D. 1998) and the University of Alabama (2000).

Speer has almost thirty years of experience in the field of archives. For over twelve years, she was head of special collections and archives at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. In 2013, she returned to Arkansas to serve as state historian and director of the Arkansas State Archives. At Ouachita, Speer is also the coordinator of the Public History Program in the Department of History. She teaches a variety of courses, including Intro to Public History, Local and Community History, Archives and Museums. Additionally, she coordinates practicums and supervises volunteer opportunities for public history students to better prepare them for entry into the field after graduation.

Speer works with the Clark County Historical Association, editing their annual journal and serving as Vice-President. Speer lives in Arkadelphia with her fuzzy family: cat, Sam, and Pomeranians, Daisy and Sophia.