Shari Neal is a native Iowan. Her professional interests are preservation, digitization and emergency management of cultural heritage institution collections. While working at University of Iowa she was a member of the Iowa Museums, Libraries, and Archives Emergency Response Team (IMALERT) where she trained to provide collecting institutions statewide with assistance during all types of emergencies and monitored a hotline dedicated to directing resources and providing information during disasters. Shari also enjoys volunteering as a preservation assessment specialist to small, nonprofit museums, libraries and historical societies helping those underfunded organizations best manage and preserve their collections.

Shari enjoys digital photo restoration of damaged photographs and museum exhibit design and production. She lives in Chandler with her son Liam, 2 cats, 2 birds and a dog.