Minority Leadership Development Award

Purpose

The Minority Leadership Development Award was created in 2001 to nurture leaders for the future and to introduce minority law librarians to leadership opportunities within the Association. The Award shall consist of the following benefits: travel, lodging, and registration expenses for one recipient to attend the AALL Annual Meeting & Conference; an experienced AALL leader to serve as the recipient’s mentor for at least one year; and an opportunity for the recipient to serve on any standing AALL committee during the leadership year (July to July) beginning one year after the Award.

Process

Qualifications

As of the application deadline, the applicant must meet all of the following criteria to be considered for the award:

• Be a member of a minority group as defined by current U.S. government guidelines as found in 62 F.R. 58782;
• Have a strong academic record and have earned a Master’s degree in Library/Information Science;
• Have no more than five years of professional (post-MLS or post-JD) library or information service work experience;
• Be a current member of AALL;
• Have been a member of AALL for at least two years or have two years of full-time, professional law library work experience; and
• Demonstrate leadership potential.

Instructions

Download the Minority Leadership Development Award Application

Submit an application package containing:

• Completed application form
• A current resume or c.v.
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate your law library employment experience or relevant graduate education commenting on your present and potential contributions to AALL and the field of law librarianship
• A brief (500- to 1000-word) essay on how your career has been influenced by belonging to a minority group and how you hope to impact the profession and the Association as you become a leader

Deadline

The complete application package must be received by March 1, 2023 and will be eligible for review for two consecutive annual award cycles.

Please email the application and supporting documents to Fiore Barbini.

Resources

Find tips for writing effective personal statements and having references write strong letters of recommendation:

• “Putting Your Best Foot Forward: Writing effective personal statements for AALL Annual Meeting/workshop grants” by Michele Finerty
• “Lending a Hand: Suggestions for writing better letters of recommendation for AALL Annual Meeting/workshop grants” by Pauline Afuso

Winners

• 2020 - 2022

  2022

  Ana Rosa Ramirez Toft-Nielsen
  Professional Development Innovation Manager
  Greenberg Traurig
  Miami, FL

  ---

  2021

  Mandy Lee
  Research & Instructional Services Librarian
  Chicago-Kent College of Law Library
  Chicago, IL

  ---

  2020

  Heather Hummons
  Head of Access Services/Adjunct Faculty
  DePaul University College of Law
  Rinn Law Library
  Chicago, IL

• 2010 - 2019

  2019

  Marcelo Rodriguez
  Research and Training Librarian
  U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
  New York, NY

  ---

  2018

  Zanada Joyner
  Digital Services Librarian
  North Carolina Central University
  School of Law Library
  Durham, NC

  ---

  2017

  Clanitra Stewart Nejdl
  Reference & Instructional Services Librarian and Assistant Professor
  Northern Illinois University College of Law Library
  DeKalb, IL

  ---

  2016

  Janeen Williams
  Reference Librarian
  North Carolina Central University
  Durham, NC

  ---

  2015

  Daniella Mia Lee-Garcia
  Librarian Ninth Circuit Library
  United States Court of Appeals
  Fresno, CA

  ---

  2014

  Stephanie Hayes
  Assistant Director for Resources
  Florida State University College of Law Research Center
  Tallahassee, FL

  ---

  2013

  Ann Lee
  Knowledge Management Content Coordinator
  Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
  New York, NY

  ---

  2012

  Eugenia J. Charles-Newton
  Faculty Services Librarian
  Texas Tech University School of Law
  Lubbock, TX

  ---

  2011

  Michelle Cosby
  Faculty Services Librarian
  North Carolina Central University School of Law Library
  Durham, NC

  ---

  2010

  Sean H. Crane
  University of Arizona, Cracchiolo Law Library

• 2002 - 2009

  2009

  None awarded

  ---

  2008

  Lauren Collins
  Duke University School of Law Library

  ---

  2007

  Dennis C. Kim-Prieto
  Reference Librarian
  Rutgers School of Law-Newark
  Newark, NJ

  ---

  2006

  Joy Shoemaker (Hanson)
  Duke University Law Library
  Durham, NC

  ---

  2005

  Ronald E. Wheeler Jr.
  Head of Faculty and Public Services, Lecturer III
  University of New Mexico Law Library
  Albuquerque, NM

  ---

  2004

  June S. Kim
  Reference Librarian
  UCLA School of Law, Hugh & Hazel Darling Law Library
  Los Angeles, California

  ---

  2003

  Christopher Bloodworth
  Access Services Librarian
  Arthur Neef Law Library
  Wayne State University
  Detroit, MI

  ---

  2002

  Tanya Brown
  Head Librarian
  Spiegel & McdDiarmid
  Washington, DC

  Donna Nixon
  Reference Librarian
  Katherine W. Everett Law Library
  University of North Carolina
  Chapel Hill, NC