Nelson Santana
Community-driven, creative, advocate.
Currently, I am reading Mediated Dominicanidad by Dr. Keara Goin.
Scholarly. Engaged. Forward-thinking.
ACRL has given me a professional home where community college voices are not only welcomed but valued. Through my work as CJCLS Chair, I have seen firsthand how ACRL creates spaces for collaboration, mentorship, and shared learning that make us all stronger. The networking alone has been instrumental in my career. Connections made through CJCLS have led to opportunities I never would have found on my own, from co-hosting the IMLS-funded "Building Data Literacy in Practice" webinar series with the University of North Texas, to collaborating on the CJCLS Newsletter, serving on the committee to select our next executive members, and co-authoring a peer-reviewed journal article with colleagues I met through the section. I value that ACRL invests in the full spectrum of academic librarianship and challenges us to grow as scholars, leaders, and advocates.
As Deputy Chief Librarian at Bronx Community College, I contribute by building collections that reflect the lived experiences of our students, leading a team dedicated to equitable access, and connecting the library to the broader campus mission. As Collection Development Librarian, I ensure that our resources speak to the diverse communities we serve. In the classroom, I teach information literacy through the First-Year Seminar program, working directly with students at the start of their academic journeys to build the research and critical thinking skills they will carry through their education. Beyond the library, I serve the institution by chairing committees including the Student Technology Fee Advisory Committee and the Library/Liaison Committee, and by contributing to Middle States accreditation efforts, all of which position the library as central to institutional effectiveness and student success. I have also secured competitive grants that have funded digital humanities projects, community programming, and resources that directly benefit our students and campus. Programs like the ALA/NEH-funded Transnational Dominican Activism project are direct results of those efforts. I have also hosted initiatives like EDsnaps STEAM, which brings children and teenagers onto campus and into the library, further extending the library's role as a community hub. Through national leadership in ACRL, SALALM, and LACUNY, I bring back ideas, partnerships, and resources that strengthen what we can offer locally. For me, the library is not just a service point. It is a space where students see themselves, feel empowered, and discover what is possible.
I have learned that the most enduring form of influence is not built through titles or recognition but through the quiet, deliberate act of lifting others. What is within our control is our effort, our character, and how we show up for the people around us. The strongest positions are built not by standing alone but by forging alliances rooted in mutual purpose. I carry both of those lessons into my work every day. Unity is not a sentiment. It is a strategy. When we invest in one another, when we share knowledge freely and create space for voices that have been overlooked, we build something far more durable than any individual achievement. That is what Inspire, Empower, Exchange means to me. Inspire those who need to see what is possible. Empower those who are ready to lead. Exchange what you have so that everyone rises. Giving back is not charity. It is the highest return on everything this profession has given me.
Pronouns:He/Him/His/El
Credentials:MLIS, MA
Title:Associate Professor/Deputy Chief and Collection Development Librarian
Job Function:Collection Development Librarian
Workplace:Bronx Community College
Location:Bronx, NY