Earlier this month, the Rank and Tenure Committee confirmed the promotion of Vincent "Vinny" Barraza and Kayla Siddell to the rank of "Associate Librarian" in the University Library at Xavier University of Louisiana. Over many years, Barraza and Siddell had to complete the rigorous requirements outlined in the faculty handbook to achieve this accomplishment.

Siddell is the Associate Director of the University Library where she coordinates and supervises the day-to-day operations of the library. Previously, she served as the Head of Research and Technology, managing library systems and technology, learning spaces, and consulting with faculty, staff and students on their research and use of library services. Kayla also previously served as the Scholarly Communications Librarian, managing the institutional repository, Scholarly Communications, XULA Digital Commons, the Data Visualization Lab, and the library's Innovation Studio.

Barraza serves as the Archivist and Digital Preservation Librarian for Archives & Special Collections. He received his BA in Art and Art History from California State University Channel Islands, and from Marist College he received his MA in Museum Studies, which was obtained and conferred at the Lorenzo de’ Medici International Institute in Florence, Italy. Over the course of his professional career, he has undertaken the challenge of conserving, preserving, digitizing, and creating access to some of the most culturally significant archival collections in the United States.