Katie Howell was appointed associate dean for Special Collections and University Archives at J. Murrey Atkins Library in June 2025. Previously, Howell served as interim associate dean for special collections and university archives at UNC Charlotte, where she guided the unit through significant transitions, including managing collections, addressing patron and staff impacts related to the Atkins elevator replacement project, and implementing a new digital collections system. Since joining UNC Charlotte in 2016 as university archivist, she has played an essential role in expanding archival accessibility, modernizing records management protocols and leading outreach initiatives. She has spearheaded university-wide training programs, collaborated on strategic planning efforts, and championed projects that foster engagement with institutional history. Howell served as a member of the chancellor’s April 30th Remembrance Commission, chairing the Remembrance Subcommittee. In this capacity, she led a multiyear documentation effort, overseeing oral history collection, archival donations and curated exhibits, ensuring a thoughtful and lasting historical record of the campus’ response to the 2019 tragedy.
Howell holds a bachelor’s degree in art history from DePaul University and a master’s degree in information studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She presents nationally on institutional history and memory and records management strategies. She is an active member of the Society of American Archivists, the Society of North Carolina Archivists and the National Council on Public History.