CDU Librarian Attends Harvard Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians
Raushannah Perkins Ali, the CDU Health Sciences Library’s Electronic Resources Librarian, attended the Harvard Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians.
The five-day on-campus interactive program is designed to increase the leadership effectiveness and management capacity of librarians.
There were 84 institutions represented at the Institute and the participants included librarians, archivists, and curators from 31 states and 6 countries.
The topics addressed during the Institute included: Contemporary Leadership Challenges (including anti-racism, social justice, and higher-ed changes), Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Leading Transformational Change in the Library, A New Culture of High Performance and High Engagement, and Transformational Learning/Immunity to Change.
“While attending the Harvard Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians, I participated in lectures, workshops, and personal case studies,” said Perkins Ali. “I engaged in peer learning, developed personal leadership skills, networking with peers, and applied knowledge to real-world challenges.”
The project work and discussions proved beneficial to Perkins Ali as they not only helped her identify her strengths and areas for improvement as a library leader but also offered her valuable new perspectives on her leadership style.
“My participation in the Institute has had a significant impact on my role as an Electronic Resources Librarian at CDU in many ways, including a strategic vision of the University and the CDU library, strengthening leadership and management skills, enhancing decision-making, and integrating innovation and emerging technologies,” said Perkins Ali. “By applying the skills and insights gained from the Institute, I can elevate the strategic management and overall effectiveness of electronic resources which will greatly benefit students, faculty and staff at CDU.”