Alfred University Libraries is pleased to announce the recent hiring of Laura Habecker for the position of Digital Projects and Archives Assistant. You can find Laura in Scholes, in the digitization lab near the Mac Lab, or on the 3rd floor in the College Archives. We are very happy to add Laura to the Library family. 
AU Libraries Apex Intern Haleigh Youll asked Laura some questions to help Alfred students and staff get to know what a great addition she truely is.
What was your background before Alfred University?
I came from Houghton College where I was the College’s Archivist for 3 years, my husband has worked therein ITS for 6 years. Before that we were missionaries in Alaska for 9 years in a small town of 500 people called Glennallen, 4 hours east of Anchorage.
What is your educational background?
I have a BS in Communications (Major: Mass Communications, Minor: Interpersonal Communications) from Ohio University and a MA in Christian Thought (Theology and Church History) from Biblical Theological Seminary
What are you excited to accomplish in your new role?
I love how inclusive the archival philosophy is here. All Faculty and Students can end up having their work included in the College of Ceramic’s story. I also want to learn more about digitizing those works.
What areyou most proud of?
My boys. Chris is 16 and Jon is 12, or the fact that we are still together as a family after we crossed this continent 3 times in our mini van starting when the boys were 2 and 5 1/2 years old. 2 weeks of driving 9-5, then a hotel with a pool, repeat. I don’t go anywhere without duct tape, toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Ever.
Who is your biggest supporter?
Jesus
Do you have any pets?
Wrangell (named after a volcano in Alaska, the name means “weather stopper”). He is probably 10-11 years old, was abused and rescued. It took him 2 years to bark (though he is part chihuahua) and we had to teach him to eat dog food. His favorite food is pizza and veggies.
One thing you wish you knew when you were 20?
At 20, I had been a Christian for 2 years. Life as an adult can get really really hard. I wish I had understood how much better life is with Jesus at the center of my life, not just on Sundays.
What do you do to relax?
Read, garden, fiber arts, family time (often spent watching one of my boys in soccer, basketball, band, art exhibits…)
What is a skill or hobby you’d like to learn?
Watercolor
What is your favorite place in the libraries?
Libraries are my happy place…I have to choose one spot?!
Is there anything about you that others would be surprised to know?
My time in Alaska is chuck full of crazy stuff. I’ve eaten roadkill (moose, caribou and salmon). Come ask me and I’ll tell you how you get roadkill salmon. The coldest we lived through was -56F. The scariest earthquake we had scored a 5.6. My kids didn’t get a snow day until is was -50F…but they could have outdoor recess until -20F. My son Chris’s nickname is Eagle Bait. Our first spring there he was 15 months old and sitting in the driveway while I was in the garage. I looked over and saw a bald eagle flying right at him. I realized he weighed less than a salmon! and had to chase it off like a momma bear. I had no weapon. Just my voice and my waving arms. It was only afterwards that I realized I had taken on a bird of prey with a 7.5 foot wing span, and nothing to fight with.