Describe yourself in three words:

Enthusiastic, engaged, dedicated.

What are you reading (or listening to on your mobile device)?

I just finished reading "Me and White Supremacy" by Layla F. Saad. I found this book to be extremely eye opening and I encourage everyone to give it a read. I'm currently reading "When You Were Older", a novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde that is set in the days just following September 11, 2001. I'm also listening to the audiobook, "In Five Years" by Rebecca Serle, which has been a fun way to pass the time on road trips and long walks.

Describe ACRL in three words:

Collaborative, forward thinking, inspiring.

What do you value about ACRL?

When I first joined ACRL, I was new to the field of academic librarianship and used my membership to explore librarian practices across the country. In the past two years, I've become more engaged with the association by participating as a member of the Value of Academic Libraries Committee. When I joined this committee, I felt like I finally "found my people." I continue to find great value in getting to know and working alongside like-minded professionals who are similarly impassioned to move the bar forward with respect to documenting and promoting the impact and value of academic and research libraries to the higher education community.

What do you as an academic librarian contribute to your campus?

At UNC Charlotte, I have the wonderful opportunity to promote a culture of assessment across the library and university by coordinating a comprehensive assessment program that promotes a data-informed approach to achieving our library's strategic goals. I find it particularly rewarding to play a role in helping the library document impact on our patrons while also guiding the library in evidence-based decision making that helps to continuously improve programs, services, and spaces.

In your own words

Put simply, I love being an academic librarian and the niche I've found in assessment. While it is exciting to see how assessment leads to continuous improvement, what I find most enjoyable are the challenges that are presented, investigating the "why" behind these challenges, figuring out what and how to assess, and then using the findings to promote positive change. For me, the true joy comes from knowing I made a difference, even if just a little, in helping others reach their goals and succeed.

Credentials:MLIS, PhD

Title:Head of Assessment

Workplace:J. Murrey Atkins Library, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Location:Charlotte, NC