LaShonda Campbell Named a 2025 Core Emerging Leader

CHICAGO—Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures is pleased to announce that LaShonda Campbell has been selected as a Core Emerging Leader (EL). Campbell is a Collections Development Librarian at University of Arkansas at Monticello. She earned her Master’s Degree in Library Science (MLIS) after 25 years as a judicial law clerk, starting her new career path in 2024. Since then, she has already made strides in increasing resource access for students using her library by rebalancing the collection based on student suggestions, creating the first library brochure, and participating in university-wide move-in and orientation activities to raise awareness of library offerings, among other accomplishments.

Campbell says, “I hope to bring the benefit of my experiences to assist ALA and librarianship as a field to increase awareness of equitable, diverse, and inclusive access to information in the communities I serve. I desire to grow as a librarian and become more effective as a professional.”

One of 50 library workers chosen from across the U.S. and Canada, Campbell will participate in project planning work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into the ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. Following a virtual, day-long kickoff session during the ALA LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience (LibLearnX), the program will continue in an online learning and networking environment for six months, culminating in a presentation of the groups' work at the 2025 ALA Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA this June. Core is sponsoring three Emerging Leaders for 2025. Learn more about the ALA Emerging Leaders Program.

About Core

Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures is the national association that advances the profession of librarians and information providers in central roles of leadership and management, collections and technical services, and technology. Our mission is to cultivate and amplify the collective expertise of library workers in core functions through community building, advocacy and learning. Core is a division of the American Library Association. Follow us on our Blog, Instagram or LinkedIn.