Wednesday, June 4, 2025
What is your current role at Yale University?
I am the inaugural Kenya S. Flash Resident Librarian in the Office of Diversity,
Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility at Yale University Libraries.
What are your main responsibilities?
My main responsibilities in this position focus on seeking professional
development opportunities for all Yale Library staff members, as well as
supporting and creating community outreach programs and initiatives for Yale and
the city of New Haven.
What do you like most about your work?
What I love most about my position is that every week brings something new and
interesting to discover and participate in, allowing me to learn more about the
culture at Yale and the people who live in New Haven.
How does your job affect your general lifestyle?
My position has helped me become more of an extrovert professionally, which
doesn’t come naturally to me. However, it’s a challenge I welcome because it has
pushed me to step out of my comfort zone in situations I would typically avoid.
This mindset has also influenced my personal life by giving me more confidence in
how I carry myself and reinforcing my belief that any room I enter is one where
I’m meant to shine and flourish.
How did you begin your career?
I entered the field of librarianship as a student worker during my freshman year at
the University of Cincinnati. During that time, I had a supervisor who saw
potential in me and believed I could become a great librarian based on how I
connected with students and patrons, helping them find the right resources and
information to succeed in their studies and lives. I worked my way up in the field,
earned my master’s degree in library and information science, and started working
at Yale soon after. Although I’m still early in my career, I feel like I’m exactly
where I’m meant to be professionally.
What steps would you recommend one take to prepare to enter this field?
If someone is interested in becoming a librarian, archivist, or museum curator, I
would recommend two things. First, find a mentor in the area that interests you, so
you have someone to turn to for questions and insight on their position and how
they got into it. Second, volunteer or shadow someone in the area(s) you’re
interested in to gain hands-on experience with the day-to-day responsibilities and
what it takes to be successful. I believe experience is the best teacher when it
comes to the field of librarianship, so being involved in that world will give you all
the answers you need to determine if it’s the right fit for you.
What skills, abilities, and personal attributes are essential to success in your
job/this field?
I would say that to be successful in this job/field, you need to have initiative,
perseverance, a passion for seeking information, good communication skills, and
strong social skills.
If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same path for
yourself? If not, what would you change?
I have asked myself this question a lot over the last few years, and while I could
nitpick certain decisions I could have made to put myself in a better position, I’ve
learned that everything happens for a reason. I probably wouldn’t have been
prepared to be in the position I’m in now if I had made even small changes in the
past. What I do know is that, moving forward, I want to act with purpose and be
intentional with everything I’m involved in. Hopefully, that mindset will allow
more doors and opportunities to open for me and those around me.
What does YAAA mean to you and how have you contributed as a member?
YAAA means a lot to me because I have had the opportunity to get to know many
interesting and wonderful people through this organization. When I moved to New
Haven, I didn’t know anyone and didn’t have any family here. I truly appreciate
how the members of YAAA have welcomed and supported me in becoming
comfortable in my new surroundings. That’s why this year I wanted to be more
involved with the group by joining the Social & Cultural Subcommittee, so I can
continue to give back to others in the same way I was helped. I love what YAAA
stands for and want to do everything I can to spread that positive energy.