"What Are You Working On, Robin Riat?"

Ever wonder what exciting new projects the many employees at NARA are working on? The “What are You Working On?” blog feature aims to introduce a variety of NARA employees and highlight some of the exciting projects we are working on around the agency. Check for this blog series on Wednesdays!

This week, we introduce Robin Riat, Senior Records Analyst at the Central Plains Region.


What is your name and title?
Robin Riat, Senior Records Analyst

Where is your job located?
Central Plains Region in Kansas City

What is your job in a nutshell?
I work with agencies to establish, review, revitalize, and improve records management programs.  I help agencies identify the records and information systems they create and help them determine the business and historical value of those records.  I also teach workshops on records and information management topics.  My job involves helping the government manage its information today and preserve history for future generations.

What are you working on right now?
Each year, I work with records management classes at Haskell Indian Nations University.  The program is a partnership between Haskell, the Department of the Interior, and NARA to provide students with Federal records management concepts and tools they can implement for their tribes and their future employers.  Since the program began, we’ve reached over 400 students.  We’re helping the next generation of leaders acquire fundamental information management skills.

How long have you been at NARA?
I joined NARA in July 2005.

What has changed since you started at NARA?
I’m happy to see NARA embrace social media and other new tools to help us connect with our customers and with each other.

Do you have a favorite day at NARA, or a favorite discovery or accomplishment?
Several former students have told me that they are implementing things they learned in class, and it’s always exciting to see agency customers making progress in their records programs.  I have great customers.

What are your passions or interests outside of work?

I have been pursuing some additional education and experiences to help me become a more effective in-class and online teacher.  It’s a lot of work, but since much of the homework involves new technology, it’s also a lot of fun.  I’ve also been working on digitizing some family history.

What is the last book you read, or the last book you loved?
I have been reading Nancy Duarte’s book Resonate.  It’s about the power of storytelling and the antithesis of “death by PowerPoint.”  I also read mysteries for fun, and the latest in Christopher Fowler’s Bryant & May series is next on my list (after all that homework).

Meet more NARA employees: http://www.archives.gov/careers/employees/

One thought on “"What Are You Working On, Robin Riat?"

  1. My grandfather’s name was Henry Riat.He had 2 brothers named Nicholas and Alphonse. They were from Alsace-Lorraine France. Could Robin be relative of mine?

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