Two iSchool alumni and two current MSLIS students have been selected by the American Library Association (ALA) to participate in its 2025 class of Emerging Leaders.
Tristan Draper (MSLIS '21), Krystal Smith (MSLIS '14), and Leep (MSLIS online) students Aliyanda Harris Cobbinah and Kailyn Slater are included in this year's class of forty-six individuals from across the country. This leadership development initiative provides opportunities for newer library professionals to participate in problem-solving work groups, network with peers, observe ALA structure, and serve the profession in a leadership capacity.
The Emerging Leaders program will kick off this month with a day-long session during the ALA LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience (LibLearnX25) event in Phoenix, Arizona. Participants will continue in a virtual learning and networking environment for six months. The program culminates in June with a poster session at the 2025 ALA Annual Conference, where Emerging Leaders will discuss the results of their project planning work.