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Marika Cifor is an Associate Professor at the Information School of the University of Washington, specializing in feminist scholarship within archival studies and digital studies. Her qualitative research critically investigates how marginalized communities—reflecting on aspects such as gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, disability, and HIV-status—are documented and represented in archives and through digital technologies. Cifor's work is driven by fundamental inquiries into societal narratives connecting the past, present, and potential futures, aiming to explore how archival practices influence the precarization of minoritized individuals and how they document their experiences and identities to promote equitable outcomes. She has published extensively in critical information studies, addressing topics from feminist data studies to community-based information practices. Notably, her book 'Viral Cultures: Activist Archiving in the Age of AIDS' examines historical activism in response to the HIV/AIDS crisis and its implications for current archival practices. Cifor is committed to nurturing interdisciplinary research communities and has co-founded initiatives like the AfterLab and the Technology and Social Change group at the Information School. Her dedication extends to teaching courses on gender, race, technology, and archival studies, cultivating new scholars in the field.
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