Colleen Shogan’s journey to becoming the first woman nominated by a president and confirmed by the Senate to serve as the archivist of the United States began during her childhood summer vacations with her family.
In an exclusive interview with WTOP, Shogan recalled the influences of her father.
“My father would take us to amusement parks and we would also go to a history location like Gettysburg,” she said. “My dad really liked history; he was not in the history field, he was a draftsman.”
Shogan pursued her education at Boston College before earning her doctorate in American politics from Yale University.
After taking a brief hiatus from teaching at George Mason University, she began her career in public service working for then-Senator Joe Lieberman, D-CT.
Initially, Shogan viewed her foray into public service as a temporary venture, believing that she would eventually return to academia.
However, her path to the National Archives was enriched by experiences at the Library of Congress, the Congressional Research Service, and The White House Historical Society.
On August 13, 2022, former President Joe Biden marked a historic moment by nominating Shogan as the 11th archivist of the United States, making her the first woman to hold this prestigious position.
Shogan expressed that her father felt immense pride in her accomplishment.
“I had to explain it to him several times because the title is a mouthful,” she said, referring to her role overseeing the National Archives and Records Administration.
Just over nine months later, Shogan took the oath of office administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, with former First Lady Jill Biden delivering remarks during the ceremony.
During her address, Shogan revealed her dedication to the foundational documents of American democracy, stating that she visited the Declaration of Independence at least once every day she was at the Archives.
Not long after her dismissal from the position by President Donald Trump in February, Shogan secured a new role as a senior adviser for the nonpartisan More Perfect campaign.
“An organization dedicated to enhancing and strengthening our nation’s democracy,” Shogan stated, reflecting on her ongoing commitment to making history accessible to young people and all Americans.
Frequently, women seek career advice from Shogan, particularly those aspiring to enter public service.
“You better have tough skin,” Shogan advised with a smile, acknowledging that women often face more criticism for their leadership than their male counterparts.
While she recognizes that some critiques may be valid, she believes that not all are.
“Some are just to make you feel bad about yourself or to get you to stop what you’re doing,” Shogan remarked.
The key, she suggested, is to discern which criticisms are constructive and which should be ignored.
In addition to her role in public service, Shogan teaches one course a year as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and is the author of a series of D.C.-based murder mystery books, including “A Stabbing in the Senate.”
image source from：https://wtop.com/dc/2025/04/first-woman-archivist-of-the-us-has-a-new-job-but-the-same-mission/
