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SLIS Diversity Graduate Student Assistantship
Matt FredericksAcademic Services OfficerSchool of Library and Information ScienceWayne State [email protected]
Nichole L. Manlove Diversity Graduate Student AssistantSchool of Library and Information ScienceWayne State University [email protected]
Dr. Ka� KumasiAssistant ProfessorSchool of Library and Information ScienceWayne State [email protected]
School of Libraryand Information Science
Breaking BarriersFuture Librarians for Inclusivity and Diversity (FLID)Society of American Archivists (SAA)
Conferences and Beyond• American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference 2011, 2012 & 2013• Allied Media Conference• Atlanta Center Universities (AUC) Recruiting Tomorrows’ Library Leaders (RTLL) Summer Leadership Institute 2013• BCALA 8th National Conference on African American Librarians (NCAAL) 2013• Colorado Association of Libraries 2012• Joint Conference of Librarians of Color (JCLC) 2012• Michigan Library Association (MLA)• Public Library Association (PLA) 2012
Making the Connection• Connecting with Prospective Students and Professionals - Conferences - General information exhibitions & sessions (on & off campus) - Lunch & Learn Series (on & off campus) - Nationwide Graduate Fairs - New Student Orientations - Statewide Graduate Fairs
In 2010 the School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) at Wayne State
University (WSU) created a Diversity Graduate Student Assistantship
(DGSA). In keeping with the American Library Association’s diversity
initiative, the position was intended to directly address the lack of diversity
represented in the LIS profession, particularly as it relates to historically
underrepresented groups. In addition, the DGSA position would bring
WSU-SLIS into closer alignment with its own educational goals of diversity,
inclusion, and emphasis on attention to underserved populations. Drawing
both upon WSU’s unique urban location in Detroit, Michigan and the
possibility inherent in its online MLIS program, the DGSA position was
intended to increase the recruitment of students from underrepresented
backgrounds across the country into the LIS profession. Ideally, the DGSA
position will provide a positive example which other LIS schools may
emulate in the collective effort to diversify the profession.The Diversity GSA position was promoted to prospective current students nationwide. Each GSA position provides a full tuition scholarship (up to 36 credits) for a master’s degree in library and information science (MLIS), annual $15,000 stipend, and health insurance.
2008 SLIS Urban Libraries Summit keynote speaker, Martin Gomez, President of the Urban Libraries Council. The DGSA position coincided with the development of an urban librarianship curriculum at SLIS which envisioned the ideal urban librarian as someone who would be comfortable in a multilingual, diverse environment.
Diversity GSA Crystal Jolly partners with SLIS student group members to speak with undergraduates at Wayne State University’s 2011 Festifall
Anita Niemczyk (SLIS Alum), Matt Fredericks (Academic Services Officer I), Nichole Manlove (Diversity GSA) and Christina Golm (SLIS Alum) at the 2013 ALA Conference in Chicago, IL.
SLIS Assistant Professor Kafi Kumasi at SLIS’s 2009 Library Issues Mini-Summit. She serves as a faculty mentor for the Diversity GSA. The DGSA was an outcome of this event, co-hosted by the SLIS faculty and Diversity Leadership Council, which focused on “Diversity in Libraries.”
In 2013 Nichole Manlove began as the second Diversity GSA. Here she is at the Recruiting Tomorrow’s Library Leaders 2013 Summer Leadership Institute Information Session in June. The event was part of the Mellon Minority Librarian Recruitment Program.
In 2010 Crystal Jolly began as the first Diversity GSA. She was interviewed by WSU’s Student Newspaper, the South End, to publicize the position and its purpose.
Projects and Initiatives• Assisting applicants with identifying and applying for scholarships-ongoing• Incoming President: Future Librarians for Inclusivity and Diversity (FLID)-2013• Grace Lee Boggs Educational Center: Initiative to develop the Children’s Library-2013
Points for Future Focus• Outreach, Outreach, Outreach!• The current DGSA will build upon the successful practices and strategies of her predecessor along with the following proposed undertakings: - Potential collaboration with additional academic and non-academic departments on Wayne State University’s campus. - Additional publications on issues related to diversity and library and information science. - SLIS Diversity GSA blog - The Diverse Library Universe blog - blogs.wayne.edu/diversity21/
Unique Challenges Facing the DGSA • Thinking beyond perceived limitations…developing creative methods of sharing information about the LIS field.• The challenge of informing and encouraging individuals from underrepresented groups to explore and pursue educational and career opportunities within the LIS field!
Dr. Kafi Kumasi and Nichole Manlove at ALA 2013.
Image courtesy of ryder.com
