Goal I: Leadership and Innovation

Leadership and Innovation asks whether I can evaluate situations critically, communicate effectively, engage professionally with the field, and lead with creativity in a diverse, global environment. The examples below draw on coursework, my ongoing MLIS archival internship, and co-curricular training in records management and librarianship. Core courses in the MLIS program are in green font.

I.a — Evaluate critically, reflect, and problem-solve individually and collaboratively

In LIS 6409 (Introduction to Library Administration), I observed a Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library in Tampa, including staff and patron interactions, and the physical arrangement at the library. I included a critique of the library, not finding much to improve upon other than to have more than just fluorescent lighting.

View artifact: Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library Observation →

In LIS 6026 (Archives and Records Management), I wrote a research paper about the Geene & Meissner’s 2005 “More Product, Less Process” (MPLP) framework for archiving. I included a cxriti9cal reflection of the ongoing debate on this issue, which is still active 20 years after MPLP was proposed.

View artifact: MPLP Paper →

For LIS 5268 (Applications for Library & Information Science), I paired a home/work technology inventory with a reflective analysis weighing privacy-versus-convenience trade-offs, such as related to smart speakers and video doorbells..

View artifact: Device Inventory →

I.b — Demonstrate effective communication skills

In LIS 5020 (Foundations of Library and Information Science), I created a poster on the roles of information professionals organized around seven core themes — curiosity, creativity, communication, compassion, complexity, community, and change management.

View artifact: Roles of Information Professionals Poster →

In LIS 5631 (Health Information Sources), I created a PowerPoint presentation about how I am preparing for a career in health information.

View artifact: Preparing for a Career in Health Information →

In LIS 5937 (Genealogy for LIS), I created an original instructional screen-cast teaching viewers how to locate and interpret ship manifest records on Ancestry.com, a hands-on demonstration of teaching a genealogical research skill through video.

View artifact: Ancestry Ship Manifest Training Video →

In LIS 6475 (Health Sciences Librarianship), I created produced a narrated PowerPoint about the impact of US federal open access publication requirements for NIH-funded researchers.

View artifact: Impact of Open Access Requirements →

I.c — Participate in professional and community engagement activities in the field

In LIS 5526 (Teaching Information Literacy), my assessment plan for training about initial Institutional Review Board (IRB) initial applications with polling questions to gauge attendees' prior experience, and paired each of five learning objectives with specific, measurable success thresholds — grounded in a role I hold on an ongoing basis.

View artifact: Lesson Assessment →

Some of my co-curricular activities are also related to this sub-goal. The University of Tampa archiving internship involves working with Gino Pasi, Archives & Special Collection Librarian. I iteratively developed a plan with Gino to make the William C. Cramer, Jr., archive as accessible as possible within the time constraints for completing this archive. My transcription at From the Page is community engaged in that it is a community of volunteers transcribing, which also involves reading the transcriptions of others to double-check their content and formatting. I also attended the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Meetings in San Diego (2024) and Chicago (2026). In 2026, this included a pre-conference workshop organized by the Genealogy and Local History Discussion Group of ALAs History Section. It was enjoyable to network with others. I enjoyed the focus on Polish Genealogy. On my own I visited the St. Hyacinth Basilica in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago, which gave me an even deeper understanding of Polish history and community.

I.d — Demonstrate leadership skills and innovation in a diverse and global environment

In LIS 5268 (Applications for Library & Information Science), I proposed a Microsoft Access relational database of accessible mental-health resources, drawn from an existing undergraduate course I teach each summer. This resource was designed for library use and future website development, with the goal of creating a new public-facing library resource. I am aware of the need for such a resources from my career in mental health services research, and my involvement in our undergraduate behavioral healthcare major.

View artifact: Project Proposal →