2021 AAHSL Leadership Diversity Scholarships

The Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries is pleased to announce the availability of AAHSL Leadership Diversity Scholarships. The scholarships support career development opportunities for persons from diverse and under-represented racial and ethnic backgrounds who are interested in leadership roles at all levels in academic health sciences libraries. The scholarships are also designed to increase the diversity of leaders in health sciences libraries, strengthen the profession’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity, and develop a more diverse pool of new and emerging library leaders. These scholarships are part of the continuum of AAHSL leadership programs. 

Scholarship awards, in amounts up to $1500, may be used for participation in established educational programs related to leadership such as the MLA CE courses exploring becoming a director or leader and for other learning opportunities offered by professional associations, institutions/organizations, or educational entities. The recipients are selected as part of a competitive process. Funding is available for four (4) full ($1,500) scholarships

Recipients must submit a report within 60 days of attending the program that provides a brief description and evaluation of the leadership opportunity and identifies key concepts or perspective gained from attending the learning experience. In addition to a written report, the applicant will provide a brief presentation (may be virtual) about their learning experience to members of the Future Leadership Committee.


Applicant Eligibility

Candidates should be employed in a professional level library position in any kind of library including academic, health sciences, special, public, corporate, or other library setting and have an MLS or comparable graduate degree. [Librarians who are recently unemployed due to COVID-19 will still be eligible for this scholarship]

Candidates should have 3 to 5 years in a professional library position and be interested in pursuing a leadership role in an academic health sciences library.

Former fellows in the NLM/AAHSL Leadership Fellows Program are not eligible.

Applying

Thank you to everyone who applied! The applications are now closed. 

Applicants should submit:

  • Cover Sheet
    • Name, address, and contact information
    • Current library and professional position
  • Self-identification with specific racial or ethnic groups (American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander)
  • Letter (maximum of one page) with the following information: 
    • Description of the leadership development opportunity in which you are interested (including the URL for an established program),
      • Dates of the program
      • Whether you have been accepted by the program, if applicable,
      • Purpose of funds (itemized list of amounts for tuition, travel, or other expenses),
    • Statement of your goals for participating in the learning opportunity 
    • Specific career goals and how the educational program will help you achieve those goals
    • Commitment or interest in becoming an academic health sciences library leader
  • Current CV
  • Letter from library colleague(s) (director, supervisor, peer, association colleague) who have observed leadership potential and can address how the educational program will further the leadership skills of the applicant. 

The Selection Committee will judge the value and quality of the proposed activity in developing the leadership ability of the applicant.

Leadership Scholarship applicants are encouraged to plan ahead since programs may require registration well in advance. Awards can be made conditionally if applicants wish to use the scholarship as an indication of support for their applications to competitive career development programs.

Selection Criteria

Total of 50 Points for criteria below:

  • Leadership focus and content of proposed program / learning opportunity -- 10 points
  • Stated a leadership related career goal – 10 points
  • Clear goals for attending the learning opportunity – 10 points
  • Commitment to and potential of becoming academic health sciences library leader – 10 points 
  • Prior professional experience – 5 points
  • Prior leadership experience – 5 points

Other guidelines when making a selection:

  • Recipients will be limited to one scholarship (no repeat awards).
  • Only one person per institution will receive the scholarship each year. 

Reports

Persons awarded scholarships must complete the program within a twelve-month period. At the conclusion recipients must submit a report within 60 days of attending the program that provides a brief description and evaluation of the leadership opportunity, identifies key concepts or perspectives gained from attending the learning experience and what impact it will has had on the career goal or interest in a leadership role in an academic health sciences library. The reports may be posted on the AAHSL Website for review by future applicants.

In addition to a written report, the applicant will provide a brief presentation (may be virtual) about their learning experience to members of the Future Leadership Committee. The AAHSL Future Leadership Committee may also survey recipients about their experiences and their thoughts about future career paths.

Recipients

2021

Donghua Tao PhD, MA, MS
Professor/Assistant Director for Information
Services Medical Center Library
Saint Louis University

Yumin Jiang, MA, MS
Department Head, Collection Management
Strauss Health Sciences Library
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Majid Anwar, MLIS, AHIP
Director, Reference & Instruction
Martin & Gail Press Health Professions Division Library
Nova Southeastern University