Michelle Caswell

Michelle Caswell is an Assistant Professor of Archival Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), affiliated with the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. Her work focuses on the intersections of archival studies with social justice, human rights, and pluralism, particularly examining memory construction related to the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia and the role of community archives in empowering marginalized groups.

Her research explores archival theory and practice, information ethics, the politics of accountability and access, and the collective memory of violence. She is deeply engaged in digital history, visual culture, and feminist archival praxis, often analyzing how records serve as agents in community memory work.

Caswell's recent publications highlight trends in community archives, survivor-centered approaches to human rights documentation, and the application of radical empathy and feminist ethics in archival practices. Her work frequently addresses the challenges of representing marginalized communities and the ethical implications of archive creation and digitization.

She is a co-founder and board member of the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA), contributing to the preservation of South Asian diaspora histories and advocating for inclusive digital cultural heritage strategies.