Today we present an interview with Shelley Kimball, Associate Communication Program Director and Senior Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University and a member of the 2024-2026 FOIA Advisory Committee. This is part of a series of posts on the Committee, whose members are FOIA experts from inside and outside of government and who are appointed by the Archivist of the United States.
Why did you wish to serve on the FOIA Advisory Committee?
I started my career as a newspaper reporter, and I used access to government information on a regular basis. I never wanted to be an adversarial requester, but I also felt strongly about getting what the law said is not confidential. I have been using, researching, and teaching access to government information for 25 years. My research focus is the on the interactions between requesters and government respondents and how to make the process easier for all involved because that is an essential moment that protects our democracy and keeps people involved in their government’s function. I wanted to be part of the FOIA Advisory Committee because this is a group made up of people passionate about improving FOIA from both sides of those interactions. Being part of that level of collaboration was an opportunity I did not want to miss.
How do you think this experience will help you in your work?
One of the greatest assets of the Advisory Committee is the mix of representatives from the requester community and government representatives coming together for a cause we strongly believe in. That holistic perspective will make my teaching and research relevant and reflective of the experiences of those working in this space. We work toward solutions that serve all of us, and that is key to improving the health of open government.
What is FOIA’s biggest challenge?
I’d love to see more government funding for managing the FOIA process across agencies. Increased technology and staffing are potential solutions to backlogs and overworked staff. That funding could also be used to consider how technology and AI [artificial intelligence] might help modernize the FOIA process, making it as efficient as possible without losing track of the nuances necessary for responses to requests. The demand for information will only increase, both in volume and pace. The process needs increased funding to keep up.
Tell us about your favorite FOIA moment.
My favorite moments come after a successful records request, but not necessarily my own. I often find that people are intimidated about asking for information from government agencies. When I can tell them how to do it and give them the confidence to try, I know that this is a skill that they will use for the rest of their lives. Opening that door for them is my favorite FOIA experience.
You must be logged in to post a comment.