Committee on Diversity (COD)

Charge

To provide a forum to research, monitor, discuss, and address national diversity issues and trends. To analyze and address the impact of diversity issues and trend on the profession, and the relevance and effectiveness of library leadership, library organizations and library services to an increasingly diverse society. To provide to council and ALA membership information, needed for the establishment of ALA policies, actions and initiatives related to national diversity issues and trends. To encourage and facilitate diversity in ALA membership and the recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce in the profession as a whole. To encourage and facilitate diversity in ALA leadership and leadership development. To facilitate a broad awareness of how and why diversity is unequivocally linked to all ALA areas of concern such as intellectual freedom, education and continual learning, literary and equity of access. To work collaboratively with the ALA president, ALA council, ALA divisions, ALA offices and units, ALA round tables, ALA committees, and ALA affiliates. To serve in an advisory capacity to the director of the office for diversity to (1) support the role of the office for diversity as the clearinghouse for ALA's diversity resources, contacts, and information exchange, (2) monitor the implementation, progress and ongoing evaluation of ALA national diversity initiatives and programs, and (3) plan, support and encourage conference programs, activities and special events.

Categories:

Roster

Ms. Nichelle M. Hayes

(Chair, July 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026)

Jennifer Shimada

(Chair, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027)

Liana Acevedo

(Member, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028)

Aimee M. Adams

(Member, July 1, 2024, to July 31, 2026)

Maria A. Barca

(Member, July 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026)

Maria A. Barca

(Member, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028)

Mrs. Emily Bergman

(Member, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028)

Emily A. Bergman

(Member, July 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026)

Sarah Bernstein

(Member, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029)

Mr. Michael Dontrail Brown

(Member, July 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026)

Mr. Michael Dontrail Brown

(Member, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029)

Ms. Vivian Fleming Bynoe

(Member, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028)

Emma N. De Vera

(Member, July 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026)

Jessica Epstein

(Member, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028)

Ms. Elisa Anais Garcia

(Member, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029)

Viridiana Ghanim-Canales

(Member, July 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026)

Ms. Nichelle M. Hayes

(Member, July 1, 2024, to July 31, 2026)

Ms. Linda W. Jones

(Member, July 1, 2024, to July 31, 2026)

Melissa McCall

(Member, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029)

Ms. Princess Zuri McCann

(Member, July 1, 2024, to July 31, 2026)

Camille McCutcheon

(Member, July 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026)

Mr. Donald Michael, Jr.

(Member, July 1, 2024, to July 31, 2026)

Zack S. North

(Member, July 1, 2024, to July 31, 2026)

Dr. Peggy I. Nzomo

(Member, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029)

Wilsinia C. Ocasio

(Member, July 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026)

Wilsinia C. Ocasio

(Member, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028)

Connie Cecelia Poulsen Hollin

(Member, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028)

Theresa E. Rodriguez

(Member, July 1, 2024, to July 31, 2026)

Theresa E. Rodriguez

(Member, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028)

Patience Nicole Shaw

(Member, July 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026)

Patience Nicole Shaw

(Member, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028)

Jennifer Shimada

(Member, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028)

Allison Waukau

(Member, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029)

Sam Woolhiser

(Member, July 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026)

Sam Woolhiser

(Member, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028)

Dr. Janice Newsum

(Board Liaison, July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027)

Kevin Strowder

(Staff Liaison, August 1, 2025, to June 30, 2099)

Previous Year / Next Year

Displaying active committee roster as of 07/01/2026. Last retrieved on 07/17/2026. Refresh now.

Resources

Composition

The Committee on Diversity consists of 17 members appointed by the ALA president-elect, serving 2 year terms and led by a Chair, appointed annually. The Chair of the Subcommittee on the Status of Women in Librarianship shall be appointed by the Chair of the Committee on Diversity and shall serve as an ex officio member of the Committee on Diversity with full voting rights.

Notes:

Per CD #27, ALA Council approved the merger of the Committee on the Status of Women in Libraries and the Committee on Diversity as outlined in Appendix 2 (Effective: June 30, 2026). With this action, Council also approves the relocation of the EDI Assembly, the Services to Refugees, Immigrants, and Displaced Persons Subcommittee (SRIDP), and the Spectrum Advisory Committee to the Committee on Diversity. 

Subcommitees and Task Forces

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Assembly

Services to Refugees, Immigrants, and Displaced Persons Subcommittee (SRIDP)

Spectrum Advisory Committee