PDA Event: Defending Diversity II: The Challenges and Opportunities for DEIA Positions in Libraries

How are libraries still doing the work of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) across their systems with or without dedicated staff? This three-part series brings professionals from all levels and types of libraries together to discuss how the work of DEIA is going and ongoing considering the Supreme Court’s overturning of Affirmative Action, state budgets defunding DEIA initiatives, the disappearance of “diversity roles” after three years of prolific hiring to these strategic roles only to see resignations and firing of DEIA organizational leaders from these same roles. We’ll discuss if libraries have moved the needle towards becoming inclusive libraries and what should be the priorities for libraries going forward. Panelists will share their experiences, progress, challenges, and changes in doing the work of DEIA in their respective libraries.

Speakers

Eric Glenn, the inaugural Director of Belonging, Engagement, and Organization Development for Virginia Tech's university libraries and President of the Black Caucus, earned a B.S. in Neuroscience on an athletic scholarship at King University. At Virginia Tech, he pursued a master's in Counselor Education while working part-time as a researcher at the VT Psych Lab and Transportation Institute. 

Catalina Piatt-Esguerra is the Associate Dean for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility at the University of Virginia Library. She serves as member of the Library’s Senior Leadership Team. She directs the implementation of the Library’s Inclusive Excellence Plan, tracking outcomes and accountability, collecting relevant data, and partners across all of the Library’s divisions to support the execution of this plan. 

Kimanthi Warren is Assistant Dean of University Libraries for Organizational Development and Inclusion. She has over 25 years of experience in multiple facets of higher education, staff management/training, community engagement, and youth mentorship. 

Register to attend live. This session will not be recorded.

Sponsored by ASERL