Whitney Applegate

Records and information governance professional with experience leading enterprise records management, policy governance, and regulatory compliance initiatives within executive leadership environments. Skilled in information governance, public records, records retention, policy development, and cross-functional project leadership. Experienced managing highly confidential public and healthcare records while translating complex legal and regulatory requirements into operational practice.

Currently a Certified Records Manager (CRM) Candidate.

Records Management, Coordinator III - Milwaukee Public Schools, Office of the Superintendent - Milwaukee, WI

(2024-01)

Lead district-wide records and information governance initiatives for one of Wisconsin's largest school districts, ensuring compliance with federal and state public records, education, and privacy laws.

• Serve as the Office of the Superintendent's subject matter expert on records management, retention schedules, public records, and information governance.
• Coordinate enterprise-wide development, review, and implementation of more than 400 Board policies and administrative procedures in partnership with executive leadership, legal counsel, and district stakeholders.
• Lead district-wide policy modernization initiatives from planning through Board adoption, coordinating executive review, stakeholder feedback, legal revisions, and implementation.
• Advise executive leadership on records retention, legal risk mitigation, and governance best practices for highly sensitive district information.
• Oversee organization and maintenance of official Board and Superintendent records while improving accessibility, consistency, and long-term preservation.
• Interpret complex statutes, administrative code, and regulatory requirements to develop practical operational guidance for district staff.
• Lead cross-departmental projects requiring consensus building, project management, and coordination across numerous business units.

Volunteer Archivist - Milwaukee Public Library - Milwaukee, WI

(2025-01)

Arrange, describe, and preserve more than 12,000 linear feet of institutional records using archival standards and best practices.

• Manage metadata within DACS minimum required elements for multi-level optimum description standards.
• Preservation efforts including housing records in acid-free storage containers.
• Conservation efforts including protective enclosures for deteriorating cultural items.

Archival Field Fellow - Wayland Free Public Library - Wayland, MA

(2022-01 - 2023-12)

Processed three historic photograph collections for the Wayland Free Public Library in accordance with archival standards and theory.

• Arranged, described, and rehoused photograph prints, 35mm slides, and film strips into archivally appropriate storage protectors.
• Created DACS compliant finding aids to foster access and use of the collections.
• Cross-walked DACS metadata to MARC cataloging standards for record publication on library online catalog.

Archival Intern - John J. Burns Library, Boston College - Boston, MA

(2021-01 - 2022-12)

Archived college's institutional history using ArchivesSpace.

• Created a network of institutional departments and colleges in ArchivesSpace to act as framework for records management.
• Added metadata to department records in ArchivesSpace to enhance description discovery.

Reference Librarian - Watertown Free Public Library - Watertown, MA

(2022-01 - 2023-12)

• Assist patrons with research and library resource inquiries.
• Help find, select, access, and use library resources within the library network.

Client Services Manager - Denials Management, Inc. - Salt Lake City, UT

(2018-01 - 2021-12)

Led a department responsible for reviewing and safeguarding highly confidential behavioral health and medical records.

• Directed operations involving protected health information (PHI), behavioral health records, and highly sensitive pediatric mental health documentation.
• Ensured compliance with confidentiality requirements while supervising staff and overseeing records workflows.
• Directed staff handling regulated healthcare information in a high-volume environment.

Master of Library and Information Science - Archives Management - Simmons University (2023-05)

Bachelor of Arts - English - University of Utah (2018-05)