July 26, 2012
For more information, contact:
Mark A. Puente
Association of Research Libraries
mpuente@arl.org
202-296-2296
ARL Selects 2012–2014 Diversity Scholars
Washington, DC—The Association of Research Libraries’ (ARL) Committee on Diversity and Leadership has selected 14 masters of library and information science (MLIS) students to participate in the 2012–2014 Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce (IRDW) as ARL Diversity Scholars.
The ARL IRDW offers numerous financial benefits to program participants as well as leadership development provided through the annual ARL Leadership Symposium, a formal mentor program, career placement assistance, and a research library visit hosted by the Purdue University Libraries. The program is funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and by voluntary contributions from 52 ARL member libraries. This program reflects the commitment of ARL members to create a diverse academic and research library community that will better meet the challenges of changing demographics in higher education and the emphasis on global perspectives in the academy.
Julene Butler, University Librarian at Brigham Young University and member of the IRDW selection committee, offered her reflections on the incoming cohort of ARL Diversity Scholars:
“The applicant pool for this award was highly competitive. As a soon-to-retire library director it was gratifying to review each file and be assured that the profession will continue to move forward under such bright, aspiring professionals. During coming years I’m confident I’ll see these names associated with tremendous advancements in ARL libraries.“
The 2012-2014 ARL Diversity Scholars are:
Christina Chan-Park, University of North Texas
Sabrina D. Dyck, University of Alabama
Lisa Hardman, University of Michigan
Mario Macias, University of Washington
Ebony Magnus, University of British Columbia
Christian Minter, Catholic University of America
Na Qin, Indiana University Bloomington
Peace Ossom, Texas Woman’s University
Thomas Padilla, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Eva Rios-Alvarado, Simmons College
Bredny Rodriguez, University at Buffalo, SUNY
Camille Salas, University of Maryland
Amber Saundry, University of British Columbia
Curtis Small, Simmons College
More information about the ARL IRDW can be found at http://www.arl.org/diversity/init/.
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit organization of 126 research libraries in the US and Canada. Its mission is to influence the changing environment of scholarly communication and the public policies that affect research libraries and the diverse communities they serve. ARL pursues this mission by advancing the goals of its member research libraries, providing leadership in public and information policy to the scholarly and higher education communities, fostering the exchange of ideas and expertise, facilitating the emergence of new roles for research libraries, and shaping a future environment that leverages its interests with those of allied organizations. ARL is on the web at http://www.arl.org/.