Sandra Deleon, MA Career Counselor, Diversity and Inclusion; Program Lead, Career Readiness; San Jose State University. https://blogs.sjsu.edu/wsq/2018/11/20/sandra-de-leons-storied-career-counseling/
Twanna Hodge is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Information Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a 2022 ALA Spectrum Doctoral Fellow and was the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Librarian at the University of Florida Libraries. She is a 2013 Spectrum Scholar and 2018 ALA Emerging Leader. Ms. Hodge's research and professional interests include diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility issues and efforts in the workplace, and in the LIS curriculum; library residencies, and fellowships; the retention of Black students in LIS programs; cultural humility and the retention of underrepresented and BIPOC library staff in librarianship.
A.J. Muhammad is a librarian in the Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. He was a 2018 American Library Association Emerging Leader and is also on the team of the OBIE Award-winning theater company The Fire This Time Festival, which presents the work of emerging, early career, and under-presented playwrights from the African diaspora.
Dr. Lydia Tang, Outreach and Engagement Coordinator, has been with Lyrasis since March 2021. She provides product demonstrations, quotes, contracts, and ongoing user support for clients for hosted ArchivesSpace and DuraCloud. Prior to Lyrasis, she held archivist positions with Michigan State University, the Library of Congress, and numerous graduate positions at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - where she earned her MLIS and Doctor of Musical Arts degree. Committed to building tools and community for archivists, she served on the ArchivesSpace Users Advisory Council (UAC) for four years, where she led the Staff Interface Enhancement Working Group, co-led the Development Prioritization subteam, founded the Usability subteam, and completed her term as chair of the UAC. Among her other professional service contributions, she founded the Society of American Archivists’ Accessibility & Disability Section and co-founded the Archival Workers Emergency Fund. For her contributions to the archival profession, she was recognized in 2020 with the Society of American Archivists’ Mark A. Greene Emerging Leader Award and three Council resolutions. LYRASIS is a 501 c 3 non-profit membership organization whose mission is to support enduring access to the world’s shared academic, scientific, and cultural heritage through leadership in open technologies, content services, digital solutions, and collaboration with archives, libraries, museums, and knowledge communities worldwide.
Patricia "Patty" Wong is the city librarian of Santa Clara, California. Wong is the President of the American Library Association (ALA) for the 2021-2022 term and is the first Asian American president of the ALA. She has been on the faculty at the San Jose State University iSchool since 2006, teaching subjects such as equitable access to library services, library management, and library services to young people. She earned her Bachelor's degree in women's studies from the University of California at Berkeley in 1983, and went on to earn her Master of Library Science degree from the same institution in 1984.
Dr. Brant Martin
Director, Career Center, Coastal University
Dr. Brant Martin leads the Career Center at Coastal University, where he has driven initiatives that foster a more inclusive and equitable career development environment. With over 15 years in the field, Dr. Martin has introduced mentorship programs tailored to support underrepresented students, focusing on creating pathways to success in industries that prioritize diversity. His DEI-focused approach has resulted in a 30% increase in job placements for students from historically marginalized communities, further solidifying Seaside University’s commitment to equal opportunities.
Teresa Heron
Hawthorne Endowed Chair, Veritas University
Teresa Heron holds the Hawthorne Endowed Chair in Information Science at Veritas University, where she has also served as the Director of Advanced Information Studies. She current leads an interdisciplinary team committed to ethical innovation and the responsible use of big data. Her recent research has related cultural humility, promoting inclusive practices in libraries, and cross-cultural collaboration. .
A.J. Mallard
Principal Librarian, Hawthorne Archive
A.J. Mallard is the Principal Librarian of the Hawthorne Archive, located in the Green Library of Columbia University, where he oversees a vast collection of manuscripts, letters, and rare editions. A celebrated writer in his own right, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 2021.
Dr. Lark Dove
Founder, The Global Heritage Preservation Institute
As the founder of the The Global Heritage Preservation Institute, Dr. Dove leads pioneering research at the intersection of archival science and accessibility. As the University Archivist for Sonticus University for 30 years, she lead interdisciplinary initiatives to preserve and share the histories of underrepresented communities worldwide.
Dr. Phoebe Wren
City Librarian, Metropolis
Dr. Phoebe Wren serves as the City Librarian of Metropolis, managing the city’s extensive library system. In addition to her administrative role, she holds a faculty position at Metropolis University, where her research focuses on equitable access to library resources, effective library system management, and the development of services tailored to young users. Dr. Wren is recognized for her contributions to advancing library practices and promoting accessibility across diverse communities.