Ryan Leimkuehler

Ryan Leimkuehler's teaching focuses on archives, records management, and preservation, emphasizing applied learning, professional standards, and ethical practice. Drawing on extensive experience as a university archivist and records officer, he integrates real-world case studies into the classroom to help students connect theory to professional practice across institutional settings. Since 2019, Ryan has taught graduate-level courses in Records Management and Introduction to Archives at Emporia State University's School of Library and Information Management. His courses address the full life cycle of records in analog and digital environments, covering appraisal, description, access, preservation, legal compliance, and emerging challenges such as digital preservation and data governance. Instruction is grounded in disciplinary standards while remaining responsive to current professional issues. Ryan's teaching philosophy prioritizes experiential learning, critical thinking, and inclusive pedagogy. Students engage with practical assignments involving policy development, disaster planning, retention scheduling, and access decision-making, preparing them for professional roles in archives and records management. He also encourages students to examine issues of representation, power, and archival silence, fostering ethical awareness and reflective practice. In addition to graduate instruction, Ryan has taught preservation coursework at Haskell Indian Nations University and contributes to professional education through invited lectures, workshops, and conference presentations. Through sustained teaching and professional engagement, he supports the preparation of skilled, reflective, and practice-ready information professionals.