Associate Dean for Academic Engagement and Public Services, Assistant Professor, for the Wichita State University Libraries.

Williams earned her MEd in Higher Education Leadership from Valdosta State University, an MS in Library and Information Studies from Florida State University, and BA in Letters from the University of Oklahoma. Prior to joining the Wichita State University Libraries, Williams worked in a variety of areas of librarianship, including instruction, reference, access services, special collections, assessment, and outreach at Fort Lewis College, Valdosta State University, and Florida State University.  Her current research interests include leadership and mentoring in academic libraries.

Library Experience

Associate Dean for Academic Engagement and Public Services and Assistant Professor, Wichita State University
  • As a member of the University Libraries leadership team, works with the Dean and other members to envision and promote dynamic and innovative services, collections, spaces, and events that support the University’s and University Libraries’ strategic goals.
  • Leads Public Services division composed of 9 librarians, 11 staff, 2 FTE graduate students, and approximately 11 FTE student assistants. Direct reports include 8 librarians and 4 staff. Functional units include: Access Services (Circulation, Reserves, ILL, and Collections Maintenance), Research and Instructional Services, Government Documents, McKinley Chemistry Library, the Thurlow Lieurance Memorial Music Library, the Patent and Trademark Resource Center, and Marketing.
  • Leads and oversees strategic planning and project management of University Libraries public programs and services.
  • Leads and oversees a program of continuous quality improvement through effective assessment programs and through the application of innovative technologies, policies, and services.
  • Provides leadership within the University Libraries during infrastructure improvement projects to public areas, including space planning, coordination of service changes, and communication to staff.
  • Takes a leadership role in developing strong partnerships with academic units and co-curricular programs. Articulates a positive image of University Libraries and its public services across campus and to community constituents.
  • Collaborates with peers within the library and across campus to foster student success. ​​
  • Identifies and participates in grant and other fundraising opportunities for public services.
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Instruction & Reference Librarian, Fort Lewis College
  • Managing and Coordinating the Integrated Library Instruction program; maintaining contact with Writing Program leadership; Managing the collaboration of Library faculty and Composition instructors
  • Teaching a high number of sessions within the Integrated Instruction program 
  • Training new librarians in the areas of reference and library instruction
  • Providing specialized instruction for music, theatre, and art courses
  • Managing and overseeing all reference and research services offered by Reed Library, including reference desk activities, research appointments and chat services
  • Overseeing policies and procedures for the reference services, reference service peer coaching and implementation of new services and technologies
  • Supervising one Reference Assistant
  • Chair of the Outreach Team, Reference Team, and Instruction Team
  • Utilizing assessment tools to determine the effectiveness of Library Reference and Instruction services
  • Overseeing collection development for music materials
  • Serving as academic department liaison to Music, Theatre, and Native American and Indigenous Studies
  • Participating in Librarians’ Council, Budget Team, Assessment Team, and other library governance teams as appropriate

Circulation Supervisor, Fort Lewis College
  • Coordinating the daily operations of the circulation department, including activities of staff and student workers
  • Working in several Sierra (III) modules, including Circulation, INN-Reach, Bookings, and Cataloging
  • Monitoring student worker budget
  • Hiring, scheduling, evaluating, and overseeing training of approximately 20 student workers

Reference Librarian/Assessment Coordinator (Assistant Professor), Valdosta State University
  • Planning, developing, and implementing assessment programs and strategies consistent with the Library’s mission
  • Chair of the Strategic Planning Task Force
  • Serving on campus committees, including the University Assessment Committee
  • Providing reference services to the campus community in person and through online chat, email, text message, and phone
  • Teaching library instruction sessions in a variety of subjects
  • Creating LibGuides
  • Co-instructor for Perspectives on the Information Society (3-hour credit-bearing course)
  • Serving as an embedded librarian in online courses

Reference/Instruction/Outreach Librarian (Instructor), Valdosta State University
  • Coordinating the library's embedded librarian program to meet the needs of online and hybrid classes
  • Supervising an embedded librarian intern
  • Coordinating distance services to remote users and a branch campus
  • Providing reference services to the campus community  in person and through online chat, email, text message, and phone
  • Teaching library instruction sessions in a variety of subjects
  • Participating in outreach activities (helping students move into residence halls, organizing a library pajama party for finals, etc.)

Intern, Florida State University London Study Centre Library
  • Collection development
  • Cataloging
  • Circulation
  • Reference and instruction

Graduate Research Assistant in Special Collections, Florida State University
  • Processing a large manuscript collection, including surveying, arranging, describing, and performing light preservation duties
  • Assisting with planning and installation of exhibits
  • Reference

Library Technical Assistant in Special Collections, Florida State University
  • Creating desk schedules for the Special Collections reference desk
  • Manuscript processing
  • Reference
  • Serials processing

Student Assistant in Western History Collections, University of Oklahoma
  • Manuscript processing
  • Reference
  • Serials processing
  • Training new student workers

Education

MEd Higher Education Leadership - Valdosta State University
MLIS - Florida State University
BA Letters, with Distinction - University of Oklahoma
Summer program - Harvard Summer School

Professional Affiliations

American Library Association
  • Library Leadership & Management Association
  • Association of College & Research Libraries
Kansas Library Association
​Beta Phi Mu

Current Committee Service
​- LLAMA Assessment Community of Practice - Member Experience Steering Committee, vice chair; Leadership Team, member
- LLAMA - Library Organization and Management Community - Practical and Applied Management Committee, secretary

Wichita State University committee service on the First Gen Coordinating Council and University Assessment Committee

Presentations

​2020
  • ​The Mentoring Process. Guest appearance on Library Leadership Podcast.
  • Changing Roles of Public Services Librarians: From Deepening Liaison Engagement to Other Administrative Duties as Assigned​. Presentation at the Kansas Library Association College and University Libraries Section Conference, Kansas City, KS (accepted; conference cancelled due to COVID 19)
  • Sharing to Impact Academic Libraries: Delegation as a Strategy for Mentorship. Panel presentation (with Dr. Cindy Thompson) at the Kansas Library Association College and University Libraries Section Conference, Kansas City, KS (accepted; conference cancelled due to COVID 19)
  • Practical Management or Practical Magic: Mentoring in Libraries. Webinar (with Alexandria Abenshon) hosted by the LLAMA Practical and Applied Management committee.

2019
  • A Leader in a Strange Land: Adjusting to Life as an Administrator in a New Institution​. Panel presentation (with Demeter, M., Besara, R., & Kouns, H.) at the Association of College and Research Libraries Conference, Cleveland, OH

2017
  • When Down is Up: Leveraging a Classtime Reduction into Library Instruction. Poster session (with Prosser, E. & Talman, M.) at the Association of College and Research Libraries Conference, Baltimore, MD
2014
​2013
  • Assessment Librarianship 101: What does an assessment librarian do, anyway? Southeastern Library Assessment Conference, Atlanta, GA
  • Curb Your Enthusiasm? Essential Guidance for Noob Academic Librarians. Panel presentation (with Demeter, M. & Besara, R.) at the Association of College and Research Libraries Conference, Indianapolis, IN

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2012
  • Evaluating Reference Customer Service with Secret Shoppers. Panel presentation at the Georgia Council of Media Organizations, Macon, GA
  • Academic Librarians at Universities Large and Small are embedding. Are you? Presentation at the Online Lifeline Conference, Valdosta, GA

2011
  • One Size Fits No One: Embedded Librarian Programs in the University System of Georgia. Panel presentation at the Georgia Council of Media Organizations, Athens, GA
  • Using Digital Media to Support College Student Learning. Panel presentation at the Online Lifeline Conference, Valdosta, GA

Publications

2021
​Updating Mentoring Models in Academic Libraries. (Coauthored with James G. Archibald.) In L. Rod-Welch & B. E. Weeg (Eds.), Academic Library Mentoring: Fostering Growth and Renewal. (Forthcoming.)

2020
Review of the book Supporting Today's Students in the Library: Strategies for Retaining and Graduating International, Transfer, First-Generation, and Re-Entry Students. Edited by Ngoc-Yen Tran and Silke Higgins. College and Research Libraries, 82(1), p. 135-136. doi.org/10.5860/crl.82.1.135

Review of the book The Future Academic Librarian’s Toolkit: Finding Success on the Job Hunt and in Your First Job. Edited by Megan Hodge. College and Research Libraries, 81(2), p. 314-317.​ doi.org/10.5860/crl.81.2.314

2019
​The Impact of Mentoring Experiences on Academic Librarians’ Career Trajectory and Job Satisfaction (Unpublished master's thesis). Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/4086

Review of Bloomsbury Popular Music. Charleston Advisor, 20(3), p. 18-21. doi:10.5260/chara.20.3.18 (reprint of 2018 publication)
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Mentoring Mid-career: Reflections on Fostering a Culture of Mentorship for Experienced Librarians. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 45(2), 171-173. doi:​10.1016/j.acalib.2018.11.003

2018
Review of Bloomsbury Popular Music. ccAdvisor.​

2017
Review of North American Theatre Online. ccAdvisor. doi: 10.5260/CCA.199436
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Tough crowd. ACRL Instruction Section Semi-Annual Newsletter. 

2015
Self-mentoring 101: A field guide for librarians. In A. Walsh & E. Clement (Eds.), Inspiring, innovative and creative library interventions: An i2c2 compendium (pp. 87-102). Huddersfield, UK: Innovative Libraries.

Data Visualization as a Communication Tool. (Co-authored with Susan Archambault, Joanne Helouvry, Bonnie Strohl) Library Hi-Tech News. 32(2), 1-9. doi: 10.1108/LHTN-10-2014-0098

2014
Review of the book Embedded Librarianship: What Every Academic Librarian Should Know. Edited by Alice L. Daugherty and Michael F. Russo. Library Quarterly, 84(4), 504-505.

You Don’t Have to Do All the Things to be an Awesome Librarian. Really. The sequel. [Web log post]. Letters to a Young Librarian.

Guest column: “New Perspectives in Leadership: Helping your New Librarians Self-Mentor”. Library Leadership & Management. 28(3).

2013
Case analysis of Olivia: Applying Gilligan’s theory of women’s moral development. Palmetto Practitioner. 

You Don’t Have to Do All the Things to be an Awesome Librarian. Really [Web log post]. Letters to a Young Librarian. 

2012
Off the Shelf Book Review: Purity, by Jackson Pearce. Georgia Library Quarterly, 49(2), 25.

2011
A History of the Embedded Librarian Program at Odum Library. (Co-authored with Laura Wright) Georgia Library Quarterly, 48(4), Article 4 .

My Own Private Library. Georgia Library Quarterly, 48(1), 4-5.

Off the Shelf Book Review: Sisters Red, by Jackson Pearce. Georgia Library Quarterly, 48(1), 24.

Teaching

Perspectives on the Information Society, Valdosta State University
Spring 2014

Introduction to Library Resources, Valdosta State University
Spring 2012, Spring 2011

Training Highlights

ACRL Immersion - Assessment
Using LibQUAL+® Effectively and Strategically