Joining an elite group of records managers is Dr. Patricia C. Franks, an associate professor at the San José State University (SJSU) School of Information. Franks will be inducted into the prestigious ARMA International Company of Fellows during the 2014 Annual Conference and Expo scheduled for October 26, 2014.  

ARMA International is well-known as the professional organization for records management administrators and other information professionals interested, according to the organization’s website, in the governance of information “as a strategic asset.” ARMA International has more than 27,000 members worldwide, “all of whom work in a wide variety of industries, including government, legal, healthcare, financial services, and petroleum.”

ARMA International established the Company of Fellows award in 1990 in recognition of those members distinguished by “outstanding achievements and contributions in records and information management as well as noteworthy accomplishments in all levels of the association.”

The organization states that in order to be considered for induction into the Company of Fellows, individuals must have been members of ARMA International for 10 or more years and must have “a positive reputation in ethics, professional responsibility, and professional standards.”

In addition to her position as associate professor and coordinator for the exclusively online Master of Archives and Records Administration (MARA) program at the SJSU School of Information, Franks is also a certified archivist, certified records manager, and information governance professional. Her contributions to the field of information governance include developing standards and technical reports; working on the research agenda of the ARMA International Education Foundation; presentations at local, state, and national workshops and seminars; and publications, including the book, Records and Information Management, published in 2013.