MacDonald Brings Deep & Varied Expertise to UNC-South Leadership Role
Phillip MacDonald has joined the Center for the Study of the American South, CSAS, as the new Associate Director of the Southern Oral History Program, SOHP. His appointment was announced by Blair LM Kelley, director of the Center for the Study of the American South and the Joel R. Williamson Distinguished Professor of Southern Studies “Phillip’s depth of expertise not only as an archivist, but also his years of experience in oral history research and preservation; higher education administration and instruction; project management and community engagement; and grant writing, make him a tremendous value to the Center and our work moving forward,” said Kelley.
Phillip joins the SOHP team and Center leadership from NC State University Libraries, where he served as a Special Collections Librarian, specializing in outreach and engagement. In this previous role, he focused on increasing the visibility of archival material across the campus and surrounding communities through experiential learning. Phillip
collaborated with university and community partners to integrate archives into classroom curricula and community programming; developed zine workshops at the crossroads of making, archival exploration, and creative expression; and curated the virtual exhibition, “Modern Raleigh: An Architecture Exhibit.” Using digitized oral histories, still images, and 3D modeling, “Modern Raleigh” immersed the audience in the sights and sounds of the lived experiences of the architects that defined a half-century of Raleigh architecture.
Phillip, a two-time Tar Heel alum, holds an MS in Library Science and an MA in Folklore from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a BA in History from North Carolina State University. While working on his Folklore degree, Phillip participated in one of SOHP founder Jacquelyn Dowd Hall’s last Oral History classes. His project focused on the lives of Southern musicians performing with the Music Makers Foundation.
Phillip’s professional interests include engaging with special collection materials in the creative-making process and cultivating inclusive spaces. Phillip is excited to bring his passion and excitement to preserving southern voices to the program. He joins the Center staff during their 30/50 Anniversary year, celebrating the 30th anniversary of CSAS and Southern Cultures, the Center’s award-winning journal, and the 50th anniversary of the SOHP.
“I am excited to join this incomparable organization at a time of reflection and to celebrate the stellar work the SOHP has conducted over the past 50 years,” said Philip. “But I am even more excited to be a part of defining the SOHP’s next 50 years.”