Executive Director
Email: marise.mcdermott@txstate.edu
McDermott is a visionary leader with a celebrated twenty-year tenure as President & CEO of the Witte Museum, where she led a remarkable $120 million transformation that expanded galleries, archives, and research centers and helped spark a thriving cultural renaissance along San Antonio’s Broadway Cultural Corridor. Under her leadership, millions of visitors engaged with state-of-the-art exhibitions, multidisciplinary programming, and immersive experiences rooted in the stories of land, sky, water, and the deep history of Texas.
Beyond the Witte, she has shaped national museum standards as Chair of the Accreditation Commission of the American Alliance of Museums. Her experience includes a blend of scholarship, storytelling, fundraising excellence, and community building. McDermott has published and overseen numerous award-winning books, and advanced public humanities through decades of exhibitions, symposia, and cultural collaborations. She has also secured competitive federal grants through the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, demonstrating her longstanding effectiveness in expanding access to collections and cultural knowledge.
Texas Music Curator
Email: has81@txstate.edu
Hector Saldaña is an award-winning music journalist and musician. In his tenure as the first Texas Music Curator at The Wittliff Collections, Saldaña has raised the profile of the music holdings through strategic acquisitions, impactful major exhibitions, relevant programming and media appearances. His colorful exhibits ¡Viva Terlingua! The Big Bang of Texas Music, Melinda Wickman Swearingen: Outlaw Odyssey, True Love Will Find You in the End: The Revealing Art of Daniel Johnston, The Selena Effect and STEADY ON: Shawn Colvin have received national and statewide attention and attracted researchers.
Saldaña is the son of a South Texas rancher and songwriting mom. He received a BA in Sociology from the University of Texas at San Antonio and an MA in Urban Studies from Trinity University. He is a USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism Fellow. Saldaña is the founder and chief songwriter for the acclaimed Chicano garage rock act the Krayolas. The family act is in the South Texas Music Walk of Fame has been profiled in Texas Monthly, the Washington Post, the New Yorker and NPR All Things Considered and can be heard on SiriusXM Outlaw Country and Little Steven’s Underground Garage.
Photography Curator and Archivist, Southwestern & Mexican Photography Collection
Email: ce10@txstate.edu
Literary Curator
Email: carriefountain@txstate.edu
Literary Curator Carrie Fountain is a poet, novelist, and children’s book author. She is the author of four poetry collections, The Current Residents, The Life, Instant Winner, and Burn Lake, winner of the National Poetry Series Award, and the novel I’m Not Missing. Her newest children’s book, The Poem Forest, tells the story of American poet W.S. Merwin and the palm forest he grew from scratch on the island of Maui. Her poems have appeared in Poetry, American Poetry Review and the New Yorker, among others.
Born and raised in Mesilla, New Mexico, where her family’s multicultural history is deeply rooted, Fountain received her MFA as a fellow at the James A. Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas. Before joining the Wittliff, Fountain taught poetry at UT-Austin and traveled the country teaching creative writing workshops. In 2019, Fountain was named Poet Laureate of Texas. She lives in Austin with her husband, playwright and screenwriter Kirk Lynn, and their two children.
Lead Archivist
Email: ks31@txstate.edu
Katie Salzmann is lead archivist for The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University with over 25 years experience managing academic archival programs. In addition to overseeing collection management, research services, and instruction for The Wittliff, she continues to draw on her professional grounding in archival arrangement and description and takes on key processing projects such as the Cormac McCarthy and Sandra Cisneros Papers. Katie curated or co-curated major exhibitions for The Wittliff including: The Making of King of the Hill; Behind the Lines: The Art of Texas Monthly; and Homegrown: Austin Music Posters, 1967-1982. She also teaches a graduate seminar course on Archives Management for Texas State University's Public History program, and she held previous positions at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Howard University's Moorland-Spingarn Research Center. She received her MLIS from The University of Texas at Austin, and her BA in English from The College of Wooster. Katie is active in professional associations such as The Society of American Archivists, and The Society of Southwest Archivists for which she is a past President and the 2020 recipient of the Society's Distinguished Service Award.
Digital Archivist
Email: L_G138@txstate.edu
What is your favorite thing at The Wittliff?
Metadata Archivist
Email: s_b623@txstate.edu
Susannah Broyles is the Metadata Archivist for The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University, with over 15 years of experience creating descriptive metadata across libraries, archives, and museums. In her current role, she processes the papers of authors and musicians from Texas and the Southwest and creates metadata that makes collection material accessible and discoverable across multiple platforms. She also connects archival materials with new audiences through instruction and outreach initiatives.
Collections she has processed include the Ramón Hernández Tejano Music Collection, the papers of author Sergio Troncoso, and the Texas Monthly Editorial Photographs Collection.
Before joining The Wittliff, Susannah held positions at the Museum of the City of New York and the Teton County Library. She received her MLIS from Pratt Institute and her BA in History and Religious Studies from Montana State University.
Archives Specialist
Email: slt135@txstate.edu
Sherri Turner-Herrmann is the Archives Specialist for The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University with 19 years of experience working in governmental archives, records management and academic archives. She is responsible for accessioning and inventorying The Wittliff Collections’ incoming archival materials to establish physical and intellectual control, identify preservation and privacy issues, and provide public access to collections. In her nine years at The Wittliff, some of the major collections Sherri has accessioned include those of cartoonist Charles Barsotti; screenwriter Jim Dauterive; poets Naomi Shihab Nye and Rosemary Catacalos; and Grammy Award winning musician Shawn Colvin. In addition, she has fully processed the Tartakov Collection of Daniel Johnston. Sherri also works with researchers in The Laura Walser Reading Room and mentors student workers. Sherri received her BA in Anthropology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Special Projects Archivist
Email: Kris.toma@txstate.edu
Kris Toma is special projects archivist for The Wittliff Collections with over 25 years of experience as a certified archivist managing institutional archives and records management programs. At The Wittliff, she is primarily responsible for preparing collections of photographs and postcards for inclusion in digital collections by creating metadata to facilitate online discovery and access. Collections include photographs by Jesse Herrera; postcards by photographers Luis Márquez and Hugo Brehme collected and donated by Susan Toomey Frost; and postcards of Mexico and the Southwest collected and donated by Daniel Arreola. She also collaborates with archives and curatorial staff to assist with other projects, from creating a detailed inventory for Louise O’Connor’s Texas Coastal Bend oral histories and Geoff Winningham photographic prints to debugging code within finding aids. Kris received her MLIS from The University of Texas at Austin and her BA in Photography from Sam Houston State University. In addition to contributing years of service on professional committees at the state, regional, and national level, she taught a graduate course on Institutional Archives and Records Management for Texas State University’s Public History program.
Metadata Specialist
Email: hhem98@txstate.edu
Hannah Martin is the Metadata Specialist for The Wittliff Collections, and for the past two years has been working to create descriptive metadata to bring a selection of The Wittliff’s Texas Music Collection available online for researchers. During her tenure, Hannah has created item-level metadata for the Soap Creek Saloon Calendars, Duke-Peacock publicity photographs, Gold Star Studios invoices, and Clyde Kimsey photographs – all available online through The Wittliff’s digital collections. Hannah’s other responsibilities include processing collections, preserving material, and representing The Wittliff at events and conferences. She has numerous publications and presentations from her professional and academic career, including “The Story of Austin in the Soap Creek Saloon Calendars” published in The Southwestern Archivist and presented at the Southwestern Association of American Geographers conference in 2024. She received her MA in Public History from Texas State and her BA in History from St. Edward’s University.
Library Cataloger
Email: mh27@txstate.edu
Misty studied at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and worked as a staff member at the General Libraries. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin to earn her Masters of Library and Information Science. During library school she worked at the Perry Castañeda Library in the cataloging department and learned the intricacies of the field. After graduation, she was hired by Texas State University as the Head of Media Cataloging. Later she took over as the Head of Cataloging & Metadata Services and worked with colleagues through many library transitions including a library renovation, design and development of the ARC repository , floor clearance projects, and renovating office designs. In 2023, she joined the Wittliff Collections and enjoys expanding her skills processing unique collections. Outside of work she sings with her choir, knits lace shawls, sews quilts and costumes, and paints.
Events Coordinator
Email: mh43@txstate.edu
Michael Harrison is the event coordinator at the Wittliff Collections in San Marcos, Texas. In this role, he helps organize and support events that highlight literature, photography, film, music, and the cultural heritage preserved within the collections. He works closely with staff, artists, and members of the community to create engaging programs that connect audiences with the creative work and stories showcased at the Wittliff.
Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Composition from Southwest Texas State University. In addition to his work in arts programming, he has performed his original music throughout Central Texas for more than forty years and has toured in Europe numerous times. Over the years, he has played in many bands, including one he is currently part of. He has also built a recording studio in his home where he records his bands as well as other artists.
Outside of his professional and musical life, Michael is an avid chef and enjoys cooking with fresh ingredients from his garden. He also enjoys outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, biking, swimming, soccer, and disc golf. He is especially interested in traveling and experiencing new places, food, art, music, and geography.
Administrative Assistant
Email: abigailntaylor@txstate.edu
Abigail Taylor holds an MA in Literature from Texas State University. As a student, she worked as a writing tutor and supervising lead with the Student Learning Assistant Center (SLAC) in Alkek Library. After graduating, she taught English composition at Victoria College and her undergraduate alma mater, Texas Lutheran University. She was delighted to return to Texas State as the Administrative Assistant for the Wittliff Collections where she manages the Wittliff office and bookstore, processes HR paperwork, and assists with public service and events. The highlight of her job is getting to continue supporting student success through hiring, training, and supervising the Wittliff’s student assistants. She finds great joy in being surrounded by the stories, art, and heritage housed in the Wittliff and providing Texas State students the opportunity to work in such an inspiring environment. Abigail lives in San Marcos with her husband and their beloved tuxedo cat, Scotty.
Business Manager
Email: kf16@txstate.edu
Kim Finney is a dedicated business and financial operations professional with more than 30 years of experience in procurement, accounting, and organizational management. Currently serving as a Business Manager at Texas State University, she is responsible for overseeing budgeting, contracts, procurement, and financial compliance, helping ensure smooth and efficient operations.
Kim is a Certified Texas Contract Developer and holds an Associate Degree in Office Systems Technology from Louisiana Tech. She brings a practical, people-focused approach to her work and is committed to continuous growth and making a positive impact in every role she serves.
Outside of work, Kim enjoys a simple and grounded life centered around family, stability, and staying active. She values honesty, consistency, and being someone others can count on. Her down-to-earth personality and positive attitude help her build strong relationships both professionally and personally.
Marketing & Promotions Coordinator
Email: markw@txstate.edu
Mark is a marketing director and strategic storyteller with three decades of experience building brands and leading creative teams. As Marketing and Promotions Specialist for The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University, he leads all creative and marketing efforts for one of Texas’s premier research archives and museums—developing partnerships, events, and campaigns that expand the organization’s reach and impact.
Previously, Mark served as Marketing and Creative Director at KVUE-TV in Austin, where he guided the station’s branding, launched top‑performing digital platforms, and earned multiple national awards, including the PROMAX Alpha Award and two Emmys. He also served as president of the ABC Marketing Advisory Board. Earlier roles at TXCN, KHOU-TV, and KTVX-TV further honed his expertise in multi‑screen branding, media buying, and creative leadership.
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