I am the Dean of Libraries at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami. I joined FIU in Fall 2023 after nearly five years as the Executive Director and CEO of OhioNet, a multitype library consortium representing a diverse membership throughout Ohio and the surrounding region. I currently serve as a Board member of the Open Library Foundation and as Chair for the Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC) Members Council on Library Services. My interests include using Open Scholarship to advance equity in librarianship and higher education. I am passionate about leading with intention and creating organizations where people can thrive. In addition to my role at FIU, I hold certifications in Human Centered Design and Creating Workplace Wellbeing. I have recently completed coursework for certifications as a Facilitator in Appreciative Inquiry and Conversations Worth Having.
Before entering the library field, I practiced non-profit law and advocacy. With over 15 years of experience in librarianship, I am also an ALA Spectrum Scholar. I hold an MS in Library and Information Science from the iSchool (formerly GSLIS) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a JD from the School of Law at the University of Richmond, and a BA in Journalism from Drake University.
I enjoy writing and have contributed to two recent books, including "The Six-Step Guide to Library Worker Engagement" edited by Elaina Norlin, and "Careers in Library and Information Services” edited by Priscilla Shontz, forthcoming from Bloomsbury Press. Additionally, from 2019 to 2023 I wrote a series of persuasive essays found on the OhioNet blog under “Director's Desk” (https://www.ohionet.org/blog/category/directors-desk).
research interests
Human centered design Workplace wellbeing Appreciative Inquiry
