I was selected as one of four faculty mentors for the 2025–2026 cohort, an honor that reshaped my year. Between formal training, cohort conversations on faculty life, and weekly meetings with my mentee, mentorship became a steady rhythm of reflection, solidarity, and inspiration. My mentee and I are even co-developing a credit-bearing course proposal and launching an AI Literacy Series in the new year. I am humbled for this first-row seat to cheer on my mentee in becoming an ever more effective leader on campus and in the field.

In collaboration with campus partners across Accssibility and Disability Services, Counseling, International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO), Office of Student Accountability and Restorative Practices (SARP), and more, I launched and iterated three technology-focused LibGuides—including Thinking Through Gen AI, with over 19,000 views. What makes me proud isn’t just the usage; it’s the shared ownership. These are campus resources, not just library ones.

I created original H5P activities for the Gen AI Assignment Pilot and TSEM courses, integrating them directly into Blackboard. These activities helped students not just read about AI, but also experiment with and reflect on it. Watching faculty adopt these materials beyond the pilot was especially exciting.

After completing Introductory Restorative Practices training through the SARP, I began facilitating workshops for ISSO and Athletics on academic integrity and Gen AI. The “social discipline window” alone reframed how I think about accountability in academic spaces, and that training quietly evolved into some of my most meaningful new collaborations.

I was invited to speak at the Career Center’s inaugural Equal Pay Event, giving a talk titled, "Beyond Gratitude: Why Disabled Workers Must Advocate for Fair Pay." As a white woman, I am not the person attendees most need to hear from, but I do have the privilege to be vulnerable, transparent, and critical. And so, allow me to wield that privilege once more as I shout: Compared to non-disabled men, disabled women earn 56 cents on the dollar. Fellow disabled workers, you should not be grateful just to have a job. Accommodations are a right, not a favor, and most of them cost $0 to implement. You belong, and you got this!

I co-facilitated a three-hour ALA preconference workshop on building digital accessibility strategy. This presentation led to joining RUSA’s Accessibility Assembly, contributing to ALA’s Accessibility Resources portal, and continuing Maryland State Library workshop collaborations. This is critical and unending work; find your friends and share the load.

As co-chair of the Disability, Neurodiversity, and Chronic Illness (Disability+) Faculty & Staff Association, I moderated a campus program on Gen AI and neurodistinct teaching, supported faculty candidates, and represented our community in administrative conversations. Without a doubt, affinity work remains some of the most meaningful work I do.

I earned my IAAP CPACC credential alongside three other accessibility team colleagues! I also encouraged my frequent co-presenters to pursue it as well. Technical expertise alone will not challenge the medical model of disability or ableism, so become an all-around ally and learn about disability culture plus the limits of existing legal frameworks.

Through ACRL DOLS Anti-racism & EDI Committee, I participated in and moderated national conversations on anti-oppressive online librarianship and decolonizing digital learning in the Gen AI era. These events are a reminder that AI and online learning are never neutral... And our work shouldn’t be either.

And last but certainly not least: This year, I said good luck and goodbye for now to my graduate assistant as she completed her M.S. in Computer Science. Over three semesters and one summer terms, she went from LibGuide creator to virtual reference transcripts analysis. Her analysis surfaced systemic privacy and data security concerns, which then led us to design a multi-step anonymization and encryption process before transcript review. Those findings informed service improvements and technical development, and went on to shape her work on a retrieval-augmented generation website navigation tool for off-hours support. Library IT proudly continues this project, guided by her initial version launch and recommended iterations. Ultimately, we strengthened our library’s understanding of responsible AI implementation. Watching her step into professional confidence while upholding student-centered pedagogy and responsible technology development was absolutely the most meaningful moment of my year.

I was delighted and privileged to supervise two graduate student assistants in Fall 2024. One is a MS in Computer Science student with a background in Spanish teaching. They are developing linguistics, sociolinguistics, and Spanish LibGuides as well as deepening our relationship with the International Students & Scholars Office. One is a MS in Instructional Design student whose background is in K12 program management and corporate graphic design. They are developing interactive digital learning objects on Gen AI and facilitating related professional development for library and campus colleagues.

On behalf of the Disability, Neurodiversity, and Chronic Illness (Disability+) Faculty and Staff Association (FSA), I moderated a Mental Health in Higher Ed  interactive presentation by the one and only Voices of Academia blog co-founder Dr. Marissa Edwards, during May Mental Health Awareness month no less! Dr. Edwards validated and inspired in equal measure.

Also on behalf of the Disability+ FSA, I facilitated a three months-long book club on Disability is Human by Dr. Stephanie W. Cawthon. This book club culminated in a visit by the author herself! Dr. Cawthon was just as sincere and funny as you'd expect.

As IITC Chair, I drafted and approved a campus-wide announcement introducing Blackboard AI Design Assistant. The announcement included five recommendations and five limitations on using the tool.

I presented at the Teaching and Learning with AI conference, where I learned with and from some amazing, creative, and critical educators plus technologists. I even won a raffle, getting to come home with a free copy of the fabulous Flower Darby's The Norton Guide to Equity-Minded Teaching.

I participated in TU's first-ever disability culture photoshoot. I was the only faculty who attended, but when this photoshoot happens again in two years, I aim to be one of many faces! After all, it is a joy to be surrounded by students who eagerly share their stories. 

I served on two library search committees for two new roles: Head of Library Teaching and Associate Dean of Academic Engagement. It was truly heartening to hear about all the good work library and information science professionals are doing across this country. I'm excited for the future of Cook with such bright minds and big hearts on the leadership team.

The ACRL Distance and Online Learning Sections (DOLS) drafted the Strategic Plan 2024-2027. It was the first strategic plan to reflect the creation of the Anti-racism & EDI Committee. A fifth section on DEIA was added and approved. I can't wait to see how DOLS grows its community and impact.

Thanks to the efforts and generosity of Raising the Floor, and the coordination of Accessibility & Disability Services, Office of Technology Services, and Library IT, Morphic was implemented on all library workstations, making public computers at Cook more accessible! Morphic is free for personal and enterprise adoption, so... Go install it now!

I, with four other members of the Cook Accessibility Team, took the IAAP Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) exam. Whether or not we pass, I am grateful the library has invested in advancing our collective accessibility expertise. It was eye-opening to study the history of disability rights in and beyond the USA.

Bonus favorite moment... I was appointed Librarian II and achieved my 5 years of service milestone. The journey has only begun 🥳

I attended the successful dissertation defenses of students from my liaison program, who I had the pleasure to meet with multiple times throughout their academic careers.

I co-founded the Disability, Neurodiverse, and Chronically Ill (Disability+) Faculty and Staff Association (FSA).

I co-presented on the progress of the H5P Community of Practice, which now includes representatives from almost every department in the library plus our institution's instructional design team and grant winners from the Communications Department who are developing an original open access textbook.

I became Chair of the university's Information and Instructional Technology Committee, which is grappling with questions around the role of AI in education, recommending new educational technology integrations, and streamlining workflows related to technology selection, review, and implementation.

I submitted my application for promotion to Librarian II; putting together my digital binder in SharePoint wasn't the most enjoyable process, but I did relish the opportunity to reflect on my professional values, vision, accomplishments, and dreams.

I attended my first-year conference (four years after being hired, mind you!), Accessing Higher Ground Accessible Media, Web and Technology Conference. It was my first trip to Denver, Colorado—including it's airport, the largest in the USA and second largest in the world—and my first conference not focused on libraries. 

I played with AI-enhanced academic literature discovery tools and presented on Research Rabbit, which integrates with Zotero, for both doctoral students and the College of Education Research Professional Learning Community. My tutorials were even created using an AI-enhanced web documentation tool. 

I participated in a department team equity audit of Cook Library's strategy, structure, processes, rewards, demographics, internal and external DEI efforts, and internal and external accessibility. The individual reflection complimented by collective discussion, culminating in a focus group interview with our external consultant, was insightful and generative. Ultimately, I enter the new year more hopeful than ever about the future of belonging and social justice work at Cook.

I facilitated 16 workshops related to digital pedagogy or edtech for my colleagues in and beyond the library and campus, not including any tech-oriented consults for individuals. I'm getting pretty good at this, if I do say so myself!

I revised my job description and moved from the department of Research & Instruction to Library IT. It's too soon to tell yet how the evolution of my role and responsibilities will impact my long-term success and satisfaction, hence why this is number 10, but... No regrets so far :-)

I designed and co-taught a credit-bearing course called LIBR 100: The Information Experience. I used my personal experiences, professional development, and critical digital pedagogy to create a positive and engaging learning environment for 23 undergraduate students. I provided feedback and flexible deadlines, and adjusted lesson plans to address real-world issues and diverse perspectives.

I co-presented at a national-level conference on ADA accommodations in academic libraries.

I facilitated virtual usability testing for our Academic Commons website and made recommendations to improve it. Recommendations included how to order the services listed as well as name changes to reflect library values and student perspectives. 

I had repeat meetings with several graduate students who are progressing their disssertation planning, proposal, and writing. It's always a thrill to share strategies and tools for the information search, source tracking, active reading, and writing processes... and these folks are doing exceptional work while raising critical questions, which means I'm learning right along with them!

I connected with other distance and online learning librarians as co-chair for two ACRL DOLS committees (Anti-racism & EDI plus Research & Publications) as well as Executive Committee member.

I completed certifications in Adult Mental Health First Aid USA (through Mental Health First Aid Trainings), Foundations of the Americans with Disabilities ACT (through Southeast ADA Center), and ADA Title II (through Southeast ADA Center) as well as researcher proficiency with certification in Social & Behavioral Research (through CITI Program).

I published January Guest Forum “Do right when you cite: Teaching and modeling the politics of citation" for Informed Librarian Online, which prompted a library department-wide discussion on the topic as well as past, present, and future teaching practices.

I co-led the Cook Library Accessibility Team, addressing access needs and issues, creating accessible syllabi recommendations, and advocating for people with disabilities.

I co-facilitated the H5P Community of Practice to promote adoption of this tool across library departments.

I served as a Blackboard Ultra Champion, helping instructors, librarians, and students use this new version of our institutional learning management system more effectively.

Conducting the library's first ever virtual usability testing by exploring how new students navigate the library website. 

Co-facilitating my first post-MLIS presentation "Less resilience, more resistance: The persistence of ableism at work " at Library Instruction Tennessee. This interactive presentation brought together three early career disabled library workers including myself and my advocate supervisor.

Every single meeting with students previously unwilling to seek library supports due to anxiety and previous discrimination. These meetings were possible through active prioritization of inclusive learning experiences through universal design for instruction including: 1) self disclosing experiences with disability, essential employee work status, and housing insecurity; 2) promoting equitable use by providing multiple ways to access information by creating accessible, digital-first materials such as handouts with fillable fields, LibGuides, web resources, and videos all easily discoverable through Blackboard; 3) modeling flexibility in use and inviting multiple ways to engage with the content, each other, and myself as instructor; and 4) keeping the lesson as simple as possible, inviting students to vote on potential activities and learning outcomes to emphasize overall community and individual agency.

Publishing three reflective essays with Informed Librarian Online.

Facilitating an interactive conversation on "Self Advocacy, Preservation, and Morale in Work and School" with student library workers.

Recommending a long-time student to the NIH Postbaccalaureate IRTA Program.

Partnering with the Graduate Student Organization to plan and facilitate a new program, "Citation Styles for Student Scholars," that explores the spirit of citations vs the grading of them.

Advancing the development and ultimately approval of the library's first credit-bearing information literacy course. 

Participating in my first ACRL #DOLSTop5 Twitter chat on COVID-19 Pandemic: A Year in Review (contributions visible at bit.ly/DOLSTop5chats).

Managing Cook Library's public YouTube channel, including scripting, recording, editing captions, and creating Tables of Contents for new videos as well as rebranding and reorganizing page layout.