University of Georgia Associate Provost & University Librarian Toby Graham has announced the appointment of Dr. Ashton Ellett as the director of the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies.
Ellett, who has served as the Russell Library’s politics and public policy archivist since 2018, will also oversee the Georgia Capitol Museum in Atlanta as part of his new role. He succeeds Sheryl Vogt, who recently retired after marking 50 years with the Russell Library, one of three special collections units within the University of Georgia Libraries.
“Ashton brings to the Libraries a high level of scholarly and professional knowledge regarding Georgia history and politics,” Graham said, noting Ellett’s accomplishments creating the Two-Party Georgia, Senate Staff, and Documenting Congress oral history projects, as well as stewarding collections and programming with a number of prominent figures in Georgia politics.
Ellett earned his master’s and his doctorate in history from UGA. He represents the Russell Library on the national level as a member of the Association of Centers for the Study of Congress Executive Committee and is a past president of the Georgia Association of Historians.
In addition, Graham announced the permanent appointment of Kat Stein as associate university librarian for special collections. Stein, who has served as director of the Hargrett Rare Book & Manuscript Library since 2017, took on a role as interim associate university librarian in January of 2024 to join the Libraries’ administration in setting strategic direction across the three special collections units. As the associate university librarian position becomes permanent, Stein will continue to head the Hargrett Library.
“With the continued leadership of Ruta Abolins as director of the Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection, the new Special Collections Libraries leadership group will focus on supporting our talented and dedicated Special Collections team as they further strengthen UGA’s unique collections, advance research, innovate in archives-centered instruction and experiential learning, and develop engaging public programs and exhibits that contribute to the educational and cultural life of the University community and our state,” Graham said.